El Paso Zoo Hosting 'May the Fourth Be with Zoo' This Weekend

Attention Jedis and Padawans: if you want to fully embrace all things Star Wars with other ~~geeks~~, ~~nerds~~, fans that share your enthusiasm for the intergalactic movie franchise then clear your calendar for this Saturday, May 4th.

That’s the day the El Paso Zoo presents "May the Fourth Be with Zoo," a special celebration of the galaxy far, far away. The event, a word play on the phrase "May the Force be with you," pays homage to the pseudo "holiday" May the Fourth, which itself was inspired by the popular movie line.

Also known as “Star Wars Day,” the day became a thing some years ago when some Star Wars geeks, um, I mean fans connected the date May the 4th with the line "May the force." Next thing you know Star Wars nerds, um, I mean fans everywhere were making family, friends, and co-workers wish there was a Jedi mind trick they could use to get them to stop saying 'May the Fourth be with you' all day.

Activities at the El Paso Zoo will include free photo opportunities with Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers from 10 a.m. to noon, and a free showing of The Empire Strikes Back in the Wildlife Amphitheater at approximately 1:15 p.m., per Sarah Borrego, Event Coordinator for the El Paso Zoo.

20th Century Fox

Borrego adds that Star Wars themed animal enrichment activities and games for the kids such as "R2 D2 Operation," "Stormtrooper bowling," and a "battle station blast game" as well as arts and crafts tables will be part of the day's mix too.

So dust off your light saber, gas up your Millennium Falcon and make your way to the zoo this Saturday. As Yoda would say, "Do. Or do not. There is no try. Yes."