May 4th is when people dress as Star Wars characters, say “May the Fourth be with you” and attend special events like the one at Vancouver’s Space Centre.
Of course, not everyone dresses up in costume on the day, but diehard fans of the science fiction franchise do. On the radio and in general conversation you’ll hear lots of people making reference to the day and saying “May the Fourth be with you.”
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Star Wars Day at Greendale Acres | Star Wars at the Space Centre | Other Vancouver May the Fourth Events | More Than A Movie at BC Place | Other Information
May the Fourth Events in Vancouver
A small number of Star Wars-themed events take place in Vancouver on May 4th each year. Some years there are special activities at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. There are also celebrations at a number of public libraries, toy stores and night clubs around town. Some years there is a Star Wars Trivia Night at Maan Farms in Abbotsford. In 2025 there is also the More Than A Movie event with Kids Up Front at BC Place Stadium.
Star Wars Day at Greendale Acres
Sweet Spring is a family-friendly flower festival at Greendale Acres Farm in Chilliwack. It runs from early April until early May. The festival features thousands of tulips and other flowers, plus lots of play structures and games for children. Unfortunately, unlike last year there’s no Star Wars Day special event, but there are plenty of fun things happening at the festival this season (and plenty of beautiful flowers to check out).
The special themed days this year include Grandparents Day (on April 25th), Princess Day (on April 26th), and the Tulip Dig Days (on May 10th and 11th). On Star Wars Day (when it happened last year) kids and their families were encouraged to dress up in their favourite Star Wars costumes.
To learn more about this event see our article about the Sweet Spring Flower Festival or visit the Greendale Acres website.
MORE THAN A MOVIE WITH KIDS UP FRONT AT BC PLACE
Kids Up Front is a charity that helps give fun experiences to children who might not otherwise be able to afford tickets to special events and attractions. On May 4th, 2025, they have their More Than A Movie event which is a fundraiser. It takes place at BC Place and includes food, games and a movie on a giant screen. For details see the Kids Up Front website.
Star Wars at the Space Centre
Special family-friendly Star Wars-themed activities take place at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre on May 4th most years. It’s a day of family-friendly and fun activities from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm in 2025.
At this event children and their families are invited to dress up as their favourite Star Wars characters and enjoy an evening of science demonstrations, presentations and other activities.
Members of Vancouver’s 501st Legion Outer Rim Garrison also attend most years and that makes for fabulous photo opportunities at the event. In attendance are characters like Darth Vader, a number of Stormtroopers and Tuskan Raiders. It’s impressive!
At the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre event you can expect to see lots of young families, Star Wars fanatics of all ages and dozens of folks dressed as their favourite Rebel and Empire characters.
See our H.R. MacMillan Space Centre article for general information about the venue.
Star Wars Trivia Night at Maan Farms
Maan Farms is a farm in Abbotsford. In addition to selling fresh produce, the farm has family-friendly activities including farm animals to see and play structures for kids to climb on. The farm also hosts events from time to time, including Trivia Nights.
On May 4th the farm often has a Trivia Night where the theme is Star Wars. Whether this happens again in 2025 is to be confirmed as of mid-April.
To learn more about the farm, see our article about Maan Farms in Abbotsford.
Other Vancouver May the Fourth Events
May the Fourth events also take place at a number of other Lower Mainland locations each year. Below is a list of public libraries and other locations where Star Wars characters and celebrations normally happen. Some are pretty simple affairs, and others, like the event at the above-mentioned Space Centre, are usually more extensive.
May the Fourth in Vancouver
The Star Wars franchise is sometimes celebrated on May 4th at the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library at 350 West Georgia Street. When it is, there are crafts and activities. The event is usually free and suitable for elementary school-aged children and their parents.
North Vancouver Public Libraries
In 2023 there was a Star Wars photo shoot at North Vancouver’s Main Public Library at 120 West 14th Street. It took place on May 4th from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Guests could dress up in their favourite Star Wars costumes and pose in front of a green screen.
A special event also took place at all branches of the North Vancouver District Public Library. There was a Star Wars Scavenger Hunt from May 1st to May 8th. It was a self-guided activity that ran from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm each day. Children searched for droids in the libraries to help complete a Star Wars phrase. Kids who completed the hunt received a small Star Wars-related prize (while supplies lasted).
Details about these events in 2025 are to be confirmed.
More Than A Movie at BC Place
It’s not necessarily a Star Wars event, but another great event happening on May 4th, 2025, is More Than A Movie at BC Place Stadium!
More Than A Movie is geared towards children and their families, and features the screening of a popular movie on the massive jumbotron in the stadium. There are also plenty of on-field activities to enjoy (including, usually, the chance to meet some Star Wars characters)!
The 2025 event runs from noon to 5:00 pm. The movie selection for this year’s event is to be confirmed as of late February. Visit the Kids Up Front Vancouver website for more information.
Other Information
May 4th is just one day before the Cinco de Mayo festivities, which take place on May 5th. Click Cinco de Mayo in Vancouver to learn about Mexican-themed celebrations in the Lower Mainland.
For lists of other things to do check out the following:
- Vancouver May Calendar
- Vancouver Festivals & Events
- Best Places for Children
- Metro Vancouver’s Top 100 Places
