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. Also, 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”.
May the Fourth celebrations looked quite different in 2020 and 2021 thanks to COVID-19. Most public venues were closed. A few Star Wars-themed events took place in 2022. Most are scheduled to return in 2023.
THE CIRCUS IS COMING!
It’s not Star Wars-themed or related to May the Fourth. For some people though, the Royal Canadian International Circus and its shows are out-of-this-world kind of awesome, especially for young children. The circus is in Surrey, at Guildford Town Centre, between May 4th and May 7th, so it’s first day of the season in the Lower Mainland is May the Fourth.
The circus is also in both Vancouver and Richmond later in the month. It’s in the City of Vancouver on May 11th to 14th, at Concord Pacific Place, and in Richmond, at Lansdowne Centre, on May 18th to 22nd. It’s a great circus, and very affordable, especially if you use the promo code VANSBESTPLACES and can get 2-for-1 pricing on general admission!
May the Fourth 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. In 2023 there is a Star Wars Trivia Night at Maan Farms in Abbotsford.
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. In 2023 the Space Centre hosts their May the Fourth Be With You event on Thursday, May 4th. It’s a family night of activities from 6:30 to 10:00 pm.
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. This year’s event features “The Making of Andor” lecture with guest speakers from the show’s visual effects team.
Members of Vancouver’s 501st Legion Outer Rim Garrison are also attending in 2023, which means there are fabulous photo opportunities at the event. In attendance in 2019 was Darth Vader, a number of Stormtroopers, a Tuskan Raider and various other characters. It was 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 folk 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 in the spring of 2023.
On Friday, May 4th, the Trivia Night theme is Star Wars!
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 celebrated on May 4th, 2023, at the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library at 350 West Georgia Street. There are crafts and activities from 3:30 until 5:30 pm. The event is free and suitable for elementary school-aged children and their parents.
North Vancouver Public Libraries
In 2023 there’s a Star Wars photo shoot at the North Vancouver’s Main Public Library at 120 West 14th Street. It takes place on May 4th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Guests can dress up in their favourite Star Wars costumes and pose in front of a green screen.
A special event also takes place at all branches of the North Vancouver District Public Library. In 2023 there’s a Star Wars Scavenger Hunt from May 1st to May 8th. It’s a self-guided activity that runs from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm each day. Children search for droids in the libraries to help complete a Star Wars phrase. Kids who complete the hunt receive a small Star Wars-related prize (while supplies last).
May the Fourth in the Tri-Cities
Star Wars Day takes place in 2023 at the Terry Fox Library at 2740 Mary Hill Road in Port Coquitlam from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. Guests get to play with the Sphero BOLT droid on ramps and obstacles.
Other Information
May 4th is just one day before May 5th which is when Cinco de Mayo festivities take place. 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
