May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day, began in 1979 as a funny twist on a line from the sci-fi movies. Today it is a celebration of fans everywhere to come to the dark side and pledge their loyalty to all things Star Wars. And what started out as a one-day affair has slowly morphed into a whole month celebration. This year you can celebrate in theaters, at home or at the “happiest place on earth.” Enjoy a glass of blue milk while you watch the original nine movies on the small screen and don’t forget to enter two big contests that are…out of this world.
Go to the Dark Side…of the Theater
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a return engagement in theaters all across the country. If you want to relive the experience you had when the film originally came out in 1983, get your tickets now as the movie will probably leave most movie houses after today.
However, if you are a Disney+ subscriber, you can watch the movie at home. In fact, you can watch all of the nine original Star Wars movies along with secondary films like Solo and TV series like The Mandalorian. New Star Wars-themes programing and a cartoon short are debuting on the streaming service today.
Star Wars: Visions has arrived for season 2 with nine new shorts from nine studios from around the world – our world that is. Employing the most captivating animation styles from a variety of countries and cultures, the second volume offers a dynamic new perspective on the storied mythos of Star Wars. The shorts were created by the following international animation studios: El Guiri (Spain), Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Punkrobot (Chile), Aardman (United Kingdom), Studio Mir (South Korea) Studio La Cachette (France), 88 Pictures (India), D’art Shtajio (Japan), and Triggerfish (South Africa) and D’Art Shtajio’s created in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States).
Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. The Disney Junior show can also be found on Disney Channel.
And little Maggie Simpson is off on a new adventure in Rogue Not Quite One. In the cartoon, Homer loses track of Maggie (doh!) who hops in Grogu’s hovering pram for a hyperspace-hopping adventure across the galaxy. Facing a squadron of Imperial TIE fighters, Maggie brings the battle to Springfield in this epic short celebrating all things Star Wars.
(Images: Lucasfilm and Disney+)
Get the Good Stuff
In case you find your Star Wars collection a little lacking, Shop Disney has got your back with brand new merch including The Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary Collection. Among the new stuff, you’ll find stuffed ewoks and ewok “ears” (think Mickey Mouse ears that are cute and cuddly), new Starbucks “Been There Series” mugs featuring lands far, far away, costumes, apparel, limited edition lightsabers (relax, they’re not real!), artwork and official “May the 4th 2023” merchandise.
(ShopDisney)
Star Wars Month at Disneyland
You know that Star Wars Month is back in California when Space Mountain receives a “Hyperspace Mountain” overlay. According to Disneyland Resort, the event is bringing epic adventures, exciting flavors and more to Disneyland park and beyond. Visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where you can equip yourself with Star Wars-themed apparel and collectibles, taste cuisine from across the galaxy and perhaps encounter some familiar faces including R2-D2, Chewbacca or the Mandalorian and Grogu. Guests who choose to purchase Disney Genie+ service can also try out Disney PhotoPass Lenses, featuring a new lens that allows you to customize your own Mandalorian helmet and armor.
Jet over to the Downtown Disney District to strike a pose with a photo opportunity inspired by Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures and visit Star Wars Trading Post, an immersive shopping destination. Guests staying at the hotels of the Disneyland Resort can continue the celebration with movie nights featuring favorite Star Wars saga films on select nights in May.
Can’t make it this year? Don’t sweat it too much. You can experience most of these things any time of the year at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.
Win Big If Your Pet Looks Like Yoda
(Chewy)
According to Chewy (you know that online pet supply company), over 20,000 of their customers have pets who are named after characters from the Star Wars universe. The most common name is Chewie of course followed by Luke, Leia, Kylo and Yoda. And Yoda is the inspiration for the company’s newest contest.
Chewy is searching for a Yoda pet lookalike to star in a new “out-of-this-galaxy” Star Wars campaign. Owners of Sphynx cats, Frenchies, Corgis, Pugs, Terriers, Basengis, Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Portuguese and Podengos, take note.
The best Yoda will embark on an epic mission and receive a VIP (Very Important Pet) prize package including:
- A custom professional photoshoot with Chewy Studios.
- A spotlight feature on the pet supply website and social media channels.
- Exclusive items from Chewy’s Star Wars collection and toys, accessories, beds, pet parent gear and more!
- Framed photoshoot photos so you can memorialize this epic experience.
- Bragging rights among all animals nearby and in galaxies far, far away.
(Chewy)
Submissions will be accepted beginning today through the end of the month. And it’s pretty easy to enter too. Share a photo of your Yoda lookalike pet on social media, tag @Chewy and use the hashtags #ChewyCastingCall and #Maythe4thBeWithYou.
Win a Trip on the Galactic Starcruiser
Enter the Star Wars Galactic shopDisney Sweepstakes for a chance to win an exciting Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser 2-night voyage, a 3-night Walt Disney World® Resort vacation, and four Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge® legacy LIGHTSABER hilts.
As you’ve probably heard, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser immersive adventure is a unique 2-night experience where you are the hero. You and your group will embark on a first-of-its-kind Star Wars adventure that’s your own. It’s like nothing else you’ve ever experienced: part live immersive theater, part themed environment, part culinary extravaganza, part real-life role-playing game—and yet so much more.
Here’s what you can win:
- 2-night voyage aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser for up to four people
- 3-night stay at a Walt Disney World® Resort hotel for up to four people
- Up to four, 3-Day Theme Park Tickets with Park Hopper® Option
- One CSL Portrait Experience for up to four people consisting of a 30-minute session
- One excursion to the Droid Depot at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- One Plo Koon Legacy LIGHTSABER™ Hilt
- One Maul (Shadow Collection) Legacy LIGHTSABER™ Hilt
- One Darth Sidious Legacy LIGHTSABER™ Hilt
- One Reforged Skywalker LIGHTSABER™ Hilt
- One $500 Disney Gift Card to help you prepare for your galactic adventure
- Up to four roundtrip coach airfares (if Winner resides outside of a 250 mile radius of the Walt Disney World® Resort) subject to possible layovers
Writer of Pop Culture 
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