May the 4th Be With You, San Francisco Declares With Star Wars Day

May 4 is now Star Wars Day in San Francisco, according to the Board of Supervisors, who announced the christening on Monday morning.

The proclamation recognizes the film franchise’s longstanding history in San Francisco — George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, based his studio Lucasfilm in the Presidio.

“Star Wars has played such a significant role in San Francisco, and San Francisco has played such a significant role in Star Wars,” Supervisor Bilal Mahmood told KQED on Monday.

Mahmood, along with Supervisors Stephen Sherrill, Danny Sauter, Myrna Melgar and Alan Wong, celebrated the holiday in an Instagram video, wishing city residents a happy Star Wars Day from City Hall.

The declaration came hours ahead of a screening at the 69th annual San Francisco International Film Festival, with the Castro Theatre slated for a special viewing of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.

Superfans across San Francisco geared up for the screening, which was also set to feature an onstage discussion between C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels and Howard Roffman, the vice president of SFFILM’s board.

One of those fans, Alameda resident Eric Stroker, said he’ll attend the event in his Darth Vader jacket and equipped with a lightsaber.

As a Connecticut native who moved to the Bay Area in 2010, Stroker recalled his childhood awe when visiting California and seeing certain areas that once showed up in the background of Star Wars films. A standout memory was in San Rafael, once home to Lucas’ editing and sound operations.

“It really explores our humanity,” he said of The Empire Strikes Back. “That was one which was really formative for me.”

As for city officials’ efforts to cement Star Wars Day, Stroker acknowledged the positivity and appreciation behind the declaration. “But, you know, when I drive down Market Street, I’d rather the supervisors be doing something else,” he said.

Astrid Kane, a San Francisco resident whose “Star Wars” collection includes two tattoos, said that they once went to a screening at the Alamo Drafthouse in the Mission, during which all nine “Star Wars” films were screened.

Kane said it took roughly 20 hours, jokingly referring to the experience as “This amazing thing that I’m never doing ever again.” 

Also bringing a lightsaber to “The Empire Strikes Back” screening Monday, as well as a replica of Luke Skywalker’s fighter helmet, Kane said that this particular movie is the most meaningful for them out of the trilogies.

“It’s the movie where Harrison Ford looks the hottest,” Kane said. “He’s the original bad boy from outer space.”

Today marks nearly 50 years since the original Star Wars film premiered at San Francisco’s now-defunct North Point Theater.

“It’s a story about hope, resilience, and the fight for justice,” Mahmood wrote in a statement on Monday morning. “Those values resonate deeply here in San Francisco, and this recognition celebrates both the franchise and our city’s role in its history.”