May the Fourth Be With You! Ideas to Celebrate Star Wars Day

I’m a self-professed nerd, and I’ve happily shared my geekery with my children (much to the chagrin of my husband!). One of my favorite fandoms is Star Wars, and thankfully, my kids are all enthusiastic little Padawans. Of course, being a big Star Wars fan, I look forward to Star Wars Day every year.

When, you may ask, is Star Wars Day? May 4th, in a clever play on the phrase “May the force be with you.” The first organized Star Wars Day dates back to 2011, but Disney joined in on the action in 2013, officially designating May 4th as Star Wars Day. So if you have a family of future Jedis or Storm Troopers, then it’s a great way to celebrate without having to go to a galaxy far, far away. Here are a few ways you and your kiddos can honor this highly anticipated holiday:

Get your craft on

Kids love crafts, so what better way to celebrate than to prepare some Star Wars-related crafts? Disney has a lot of great ideas, from a Jawa picture frame or a Maz Kanata handprint painting to a Rey bookmark and tie fighter splatter art.

Another fun activity? Making lightsabers out of pool noodles! We made them for my son’s Star Wars-themed birthday party, and my kids still play with them to this day. All you need are pool noodles and some duct tape, and you’re set!

Cook up some tasty Star Wars-themed treats

No Star Wars Day would be complete without Star Wars-themed food! And the opportunities are endless. You can whip up some blue milk, just like Aunt Beru serves in Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope. Disney also has a great twist on a kids’ favorite — instead of giving them mac and cheese, serve up some Maz and cheese. Nerdist also has a can’t-miss recipe for Princess Leia cinnamon buns, which would be a perfect breakfast to kick off Star Wars Day!

Some more fun ideas include this delicious-sounding Yoda Soda, a storm trooper cheese ball, these Yoda and Darth Vader-themed pizzas, and Death Star popcorn balls.

Dress in Star Wars style

Make sure to show that you’re strong with the Force, and get decked out in your favorite Star Wars gear. Send your kids off to school in their favorite Star Wars shirts, and when they get home, they can have some fun going all out dressing up like their favorite characters. My son, Ben, loves Darth Vader and Kylo Ren, so I have a feeling he’ll be spending most of the afternoon and evening stomping around in his black cape and Vader mask, humming the Imperial March.

As for Mom? Well, it isn’t as easy for moms to dress up, but Disneybound has some great ideas to infuse a little Star Wars fashion into your wardrobe here. A crown braid or some coiled buns can have you channeling the one and only Princess Leia, too.

Have a Star Wars marathon

No Star Wars Day celebration would be complete without a marathon of the movies themselves. As to which movies you watch, and in which order, that’s up to you. Some say the best way is to watch the movies in chronological order, starting with Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace and ending with Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens.

Personally, my preferred binge-watching order is to start with the original releases and end with The Force Awakens, skipping the prequels entirely. But the good news is, there is no right or wrong choice as to which movies you watch.

Join the Dark Side

Want to keep the Star Wars fun going? Then consider joining the Empire with Revenge of the Fifth! Inspired by Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith, the merriment can continue by celebrating the Sith Lords from Star Wars. Notable Siths include Darth Sidious (none other than the emperor himself), Darth Maul, and the one and only Darth Vader. So if your kids like storm troopers and Darth Vader more than Jedis and the Rebellion, then move your Star Wars celebration to May 5th and celebrate your inner Dark Side.