Collecting the Galaxy: Star Wars Day Product Releases/Events

This Sunday is May 4th, just a regular day for most, but for Star Wars fans around the world it’s considered a holiday. A day to celebrate all things Star Wars and we have the late British Prime Minister Margret Thatcher to thank for it. On May 4, 1979, Margret Thatcher’s political team placed an advertisement in The London Evening News congratulating her on becoming prime minister, the advertisement had the headline “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations”, and from that moment, May the 4th and the Star Wars phrase “May the Force be with you” became synonymous with one another. Each year Star Wars day on May the 4th gets bigger and better with fans calling for it to become an official Hallmark holiday. With that in mind, here’s our round-up of some of the things you can expect to see this weekend…




Disney Store’s around the world are releasing some awesome new Star Wars products at price ranges to please all. I can’t wait to get my hands on the new 15″ talking figures and the R2-D2 plush. The first 100 Guests who visit a Disney Store in the US on Star Wars Day will receive a limited edition Star Wars pin, and children aged three and up are invited to learn the “Ways of the Force” — featuring activities that recreate some of A New Hope‘s most memorable scenes, where they can “Discover the Jedi” mind trick, master a lightsaber through hands-on training, and help Luke Skywalker destroy the Death Star through an interactive experience on the Media Wall. You can also collect the first in a series of Star Wars trading cards, too (different cards will be available in North America and Europe). For more images, read StarWars.com’s recent story here. Disney World and Disneyland will have limited edition pins available for May 4th and May 5th (Revenge of the Fifth) too.



LEGO celebrates the 15th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars this year and they’re offering 15% off a lot of LEGO Star Wars items to celebrate. Also, there’s a free LEGO Star Wars poster with purchase and an exclusive Darth Revan Minifigure with a minimum spend too — available in-store and on-line at LEGO.com. The new LEGO Star Wars Sandcrawler is also available this weekend and it looks fantastic (I’m busy building mine now). Also available is the revised and updated edition of the LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary from DK which comes with an exclusive retro Luke Skywalker Minifigure; the first edition sold over 2 million copies and this revised edition is a must buy. Watch out for co-author Jason Fry who starts a book tour this weekend across the US with DK.



For those that like collectibles, you’re in for a treat. Hallmark celebrates Star Wars Day by introducing new products in Hallmark Gold Crown stores to delight Star Wars fans of all ages and engage fans with “May the 4th” fun online/in social media. “As big fans of the Star Wars series, we love showing these iconic characters on our products,” says Christine Taylor of Hallmark Licensing. “It’s a thrill to introduce new generations of fans to the magic of Star Wars through products that they can use to connect with each other.” Ten new Star Wars products join the Hallmark galaxy and land in Hallmark Gold Crown stores in May – products include desktop accessories, mugs, bottle openers and frames; some feature light and sound effects and feature characters, including Darth Vader, Yoda amongst others.

A new product from Hallmark coming in September is Hallmark’s itty bittys line of pint-size plush characters and six exclusive Star Wars characters will be introduced including Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C3PO, and Jawa, which will be available in a Star Wars: A New Hope Collector Set and Darth Vader and R2-D2 that will be sold separately. This week, follow Hallmark on Twitter (@Hallmark) to learn more about a chance to win one of three Hallmark prize packages, including a set of Star Wars Keepsake Ornaments, a set of Star Wars gifts, and a set of the new Star Wars itty bittys plush characters. Through May 4, visit Hallmark.com to send family and friends a free Star Wars Day e-card and receive 20% off personalized Star Wars cards with the code MAY4.



Sideshow Collectibles are known for their amazing sculpting and fantastic products. They’re one of the few companies that have mastered the use of cloth on collectibles, regardless of size from sixth scale (12″) to life-size. For Star Wars Day, Sideshow have lots of treats for us fans starting with the gift voucher you’ve been looking for… $25 off a selection of collectibles available now (and valid until the end of May), as well as double Sideshow rewards points available on select in-stock Star Wars products too. There’s four new product reveals/pre-orders starting with the life-size Boba Fett figure that is the perfect companion piece to the recently revealed life-size Han Solo in Carbonite. Boba Fett comes with a fabric costume jump suit, light up chest and base, multi-positionable helmet and removable range finder. Next up is Jango Fett sixth scale figure that boasts a detailed flight suit, blaster pistols, and a Jetpack with flame attachments. Next is another life-size figure, the highly detailed Jedi master, Yoda, who comes with a meticulous fabric costume and many more great features. Finally, there’s one of the most requested sixth scale figures – the ultimate deluxe R2-D2 which has so many features it’s difficult to know where to start! R2‐D2 has many arm options and attachments, an extending life scanner and periscope, as well as a light up logic function display and holographic projector. Always two there are… and you have the opportunity to enter two different competitions at Sideshow’s website to win a life-size Darth Vader Bust as well as the amazing 1:6 scale Deluxe R2-D2 Astromech Droid. Join in the excitement with Sideshow here.



Patches are a firm fan favourite with Star Wars fans and R2-KT loves to celebrate Star Wars Day with her friends, so Juan Jose Matamoros has designed a gorgeous patch to commemorate this very special day. At just $7 each with free shipping to anywhere in the Galaxy they’re available now by sending your money via PayPal to r2kt@r2kt.com. All proceeds go to Make-A-Wish Foundation which is dear to R2-KT’s golden heart.



Thanks to the folks at M&M’s the chocolate mPIRE is back with a variety of tasty new products, you’re only choice is whether you go with the light side (milk) or the dark side (plain) – which ever side you choose thought you’re in for a treat, this is chocolate after all.



When in comes to attire two names jump to the front… Vans is taking off to a galaxy far, far away with an out-of-this-world collection which StarWars.com revealed here just a couple of days ago. Featuring artwork from the original Star Wars trilogy, the new Vans x Star Wars line extends from Classics and Vault by Vans footwear to men’s apparel and women’s accessories with a stylish mix of heritage Vans prints and iconic Star Wars designs, Vans x Star Wars celebrates the legacy of both brands in an exciting, new way. Ashley Eckstein with Her Universe have some great offers for you this weekend – you can save 40% off selected Star Wars apparel, get a mystery Star Wars t-shirt for just $10 (that’s over 50% off) and celebrate Star Wars Day with three brand new products which are sure to sell quickly!



We welcome a new licensee to the Star Wars universe called Anovos that will be creating costume replicas of outfits worn by Luke Skywalker and Han Solo to Darth Vader, with presales beginning at the Anovos website on Star Wars Day — how appropriate. The costume replicas have been designed to be both displayable and wearable and the first three extraordinary creations are based on the unforgettable adventures in The Empire Strikes Back and were previewed last weekend at C2E2. Luke Skywalker’s Bespin uniform and holster will lead the release, followed by Han Solo’s iconic costume and — later in the summer — a wearable full-length Darth Vader costume.



If gaming is more your thing then Steam are offering 14 Star Wars game titles including Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, Star Wars Republic Commando, Star Wars Starfighter, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes, Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition, Star Wars THE FORCE UNLEASHED II, Star Wars:Dark Forces, Star Wars Empire at War: Gold Pack, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, and Star Wars Battlefront II –all at a huge 66% off!



If art is your thing then head over to Super7 in San Francisco. Super7 will host a gathering of Rebels, Imperials and all manner of space creatures alike, featuring live guests from the local 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, a Star Wars Mini-Arcade with prizes for high scores, Star Wars Photobooth, Raffle Prizes and more! The May the 4th event also marks the debut of the all-new Super7 x Star Wars Limited Edition Screen Print Series from Super7 and Acme Archives Dark Ink! The series begins with Space Vader, a glow-in-the-dark design showing the evil lord Darth Vader himself which is available in store and on-line.



Talking about Acme Archives they’re celebrating Star Wars Day with eight new Star Wars prints from Mark Englert, Dave Perillo, Steve Thomas, Masey, Tim Anderson, Amy Mebberson & Ian Glaubinger which will all be available on May the 4th at 1 p.m. PT for various prices and in different edition sizes.



Official Pix are releasing a 10×20″ Star Wars Day exclusive photo from The Empire Strikes Back. The image depicts a scene from Bespin featuring Darth Vader and the infamous Bounty Hunter Boba Fett. It will be available in limited numbers on Star Wars Day for $24.99.



If you have pets you’ve probably already seen the wide range of products available from Petco and you’ll be pleased to know that they’re as excited about Star Wars Day as we are and are ready to announce their latest additions to their exclusive Star Wars Pet Fans Collection. No need to journey to a galaxy far, far away… you’ll find the planet’s coolest Star Wars gear at Petco!



If you’re a fan of the great books by Jeffrey Brown such as Darth Vader and Son or Vader’s Little Princess then you’ll want to enter this great competition from Chronicle Books and Gentle Giant Ltd. To celebrate Star Wars Day they’re giving you the chance to win a special edition Darth Vader and Son or Vader’s Little Princess prize pack, including postcards, a journal, and maquette from Gentle Giant, Ltd.! Take the link here to enter.



…and don’t forget the Star Wars Rebels trailer debuts on Star Wars Day, too. The trailer for Star Wars Rebels will premiere on StarWars.com at 12:01 a.m. PT, giving the world its first extended look at the upcoming animated series. The trailer will also debut on Disney XD and Disney Channels in countries spanning across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Australia — reaching approximately 105 million households in over 50 countries, across six continents and over 20 time zones.

Have a fantastic day and May the 4th be with you!



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