This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Thousands of Star Wars fans battled with lightsabers downtown last night, attempting to break a world record.As part of an opening weekend that has also included fire alarms, freak outs and a wedding, fans of the film franchise gathered at Pershing Square at 9 p.m. on Friday for the massive friendly fight, reports ABC 7. The event, organized by Newmindspace, was part of a multi-city world record-setting effort for the most lightsaber battles in a 24-hour period, which included a huge gathering in San Francisco last night, and ones planned for San Diego and Seattle tonight.
While the exact numbers haven't yet been tallied, organizers pre-sold the 3,000 of the $5 and $10 lightsabers reserved for the event in L.A., according to L.A. Weekly, while many more were sold on site and fans were, of course, welcome to bring their own. The current world record is 7,000 combatants, according to Newmindspace, and this weekend they will attempt to shatter it with 10,100 lightsabers in action. Judging by the videos and photos so far, there's a good chance they could get there.
While many fans came dressed as Jedis and others chose the Darkside as Siths, plenty of people showed up without costumes. Fans wielded lightsabers of green, red and blue, dueling with friends, family and strangers. "It was a great activity for Star Wars fans of all ages," participant Brian Takahashi tells LAist. "It was also for people who just want to live out some Jedi/Sith fantasies and are not hardcore fans."
Some of the most skilled fighters were young Jedi Padawans:
But the intensity wasn't just reserved for the younger crowd:
In some cases people simply crossed their lightsabers in a big group huddle:
And in other cases, there was just a lightsaber free-for-all:
According to the organizers, they have yet to receive a complaint from Lucasfilm or Disney, so they plan to continue the battle. Whether they are able to break the record this year will depend on the turnouts tonight in Seattle and San Diego, though as Yoda says, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
