May the 4th Be With You
Modesto is the home of Star Wars and there is no better way to get May off to a hyperspace start. Star Wars in Modesto is so much more than just May the 4th, it’s a sense of being, that we are part of the story.
There is a sense of pride that every Modestan needs to feel when you see Star Wars, or walk through the Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, when you think that all of this came from the mind of a Downey High Grad, a local rally car racer, an MJC student who ended up at USC film school who changed the film industry forever. Yes, Modesto, we are proud to be the home of George Lucas. From the opening seconds of Star Wars, A New Hope, opening at the Briggsmore Theatre in 1977, we knew movies would never be the same.
The perfect way to start your May is at the State Theatre where you can see the original trilogy right in a row, two days in a row. Star Wars A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and the Return of the Jedi. If you know someone that has not seen Star Wars, make it your project to get them into the club.
Did you know?
Star Wars exists today because American Graffiti was a hit. If Graffiti had flopped, Lucas might not have had the credibility or the funding to make Star Wars the way he did. Can you imagine a movie landscape without Star Wars? One more reason to love American Graffiti.
The Original Trio
The State Theatre will be showing the original trilogy on May 2nd and 3rd. You can watch the film that started it all, A New Hope, and the Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi in a row. Make a day out of it and the State will have some Star War themed cocktails.
Star Wars Cocktails
Don’t miss the Mai Tie Fighter, the Baby Yoda Sour and the Sparkling Bantha Milk at Fuzio Bistro. These will be available May 1- May 4 and maybe longer if you use the force. Also check out the Blue Milk at the Tiki Lounge and a special pop up bar at the Century by Mobile Mixologist.
Check out the Murals
You can make a walking tour to check out the Modesto Murals featuring Star Wars. Don’t miss the huge Darth Vader at 1016 14th St Check out Princess Leia in Mural Alley off of J Street. Star Wars appears in the 3-story mural in 10th St Plaza and check out the mural at G and 6th St.
May the 4th
May the 4th is special to Modesto USA and Modesto is the home of George Lucas. Every Modestan should feel special. The ModestoView team rallied the City of Modesto to issue the first official city proclamation that designated May the 4th as a commemorative day and since then the fun grows each year.
Celebrated on May the 4th, ModestoView, SPWG, Collins Electric, and Assemblyman Obi Juan Alanis and our community will be celebrating in 10th St Plaza from 5- 9 pm.
May the 4th is a free family event featuring droids, stand ups, photo ops, cosplay, X wing fighter, Millennium Falcon cockpit, face painting, vendors and more.
Special this year will the return of the life size Tie Fighter. This huge spaceship will allow visitors to sit in the cockpit thanks to our friends at Gemperle Farms. Word is that this will be the last public display for the giant Tie Fighter so don’t miss it.
Andrew Nelson, who spent more time in the Darth Vader suit than any other actor, and David Gonzales, who portrayed Ak-Rev in the 1997 special edition of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi are scheduled to join. Don’t miss a special meet and greet with Grogu (aka Baby Yoda)
There will be a special Death Star Pinata and music from Modesto’s Star Wars band Horizon Point and more special guests and awards to be announced.
The highlight of the evening is the block long lightsaber battle at dusk.
Following the battle, the Brenden will be showing Space Balls at 9 pm.
Guest are encouraged to dress as their favorite character and bring their lightsabers.
Look for a special Star Wars drink menu at Fuzio Bistro.
5:00 pm Event Start
5:30 pm Reading of the Proclamation and Introduction.
Chris Murphy, Middagh Goodwin and Assemblyman Obi Juan Alanis and other Special 5-9 pm Tie Fighter Cockpit Photo ops
6:00 pm Death Star Pinata Battle
6:30 pm Get your pictures with Din Grogu aka Baby Yoda
Approx dusk 8:00 pm Light Saber Battle in the Plaza
Horizon Point will perform their full Jedi show in the Plaza, complete with musical interludes from the movies, throughout the event.
9:00 pm – Spaceballs movie at Brenden Theatre
