Top Ways To Celebrate Star Wars In Denver

People dressed up in Star Wars costumes next to the X-Wing Starfighter at the Wings Over The Rockies Museum (credit: CBS)

The fourth of May is coming up, which means that National "Star Wars" Day is coming up too. Yes, it is "May the Fourth" as in "May the Force be with you." So why not take this time to really celebrate one of the biggest film franchises in all of movie history? From real-life astronomy and science to some great places to grab "Star Wars" gear and dress up in style, there are many different ways to celebrate May the Fourth. Plus, the new films are due out in two short years, so you may want to get in line at your nearest movie theater now.

Related: Famous Fans Of Star Wars

Visit the Planetarium
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 370-6000
www.dmns.org

The Planetarium at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a great way to honor the science behind "Star Wars" and take your own little trip to the stars. There are a lot of great shows that play at the Planetarium, so you can even check out more than one of them. There is "Cosmic Journey" which takes you on a super fast tour through the solar system. Or there is "Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity," that will show you all about wormholes, the creation of the galaxy and the birth of a black hole. No matter which show you check out, you'll feel like you are visiting the stars.

Related: Top Movie Theaters in Denver

Visit the Chamberlin Observatory
2930 E. Warren Ave.
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 871-5172
www.denverastrosociety.org

The Chamberlin Observatory is home to the historic 28-foot-long Alvan Clark-Saegmuller refracting telescope. Visit the Observatory on a clear night to get your own real view of the stars, the planets and more while also being treated to a lecture about the stars and the telescopes by some of the best local names in astronomy in Denver. The Observatory holds public nights almost year-round so you should have plenty of opportunities to visit with an astronomer and get your own glimpse into the stars.

The Wings Over the Rockies Museum may be devoted to a different type of aviation, still it's home to a replica of the T-65 X-Wing Starfighter used in the films. So yes, you can actually go and get a first-hand look at the aircraft that Luke Skywalker flew. The replica is owned by Lucasfilm and  travels to other exhibits occasionally but most of the time it resides at the museum. While you are there, you can check out all the other amazing aircrafts and exhibits that are housed at the museum. But let's be honest, you are going to want to spend most of your time checking out the X-Wing.

Have a Pizza and Movie Night
3 Guys Pies
1501 E. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 623-4897
www.3guyspies.com

Grab some pizza, invite some friends over and settle in for a movie marathon of galactic proportions. Why not really celebrate May the Fourth by watching all six films in order? Of course, that means starting with the fourth film, but about 18 hours later, you'll have watched all the films, and you'll be totally ready for the next installment, due out in 2015. Make sure to grab plenty of great pizza to keep you going. The pizza at 3 Guys Pies is sure to keep you fueled for the big movie-a-thon.

Related: Top Ways to Bring Middle Earth to Denver

Gear up at The Wizard's Chest
230 Fillmore St.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 321-4304
www.wizardschest.com

From FX Lightsabers to cards to the full deluxe Darth Vadar costume, The Wizards Chest has all the costumes and gear to help you really immerse yourself in the "Star Wars" culture. If you are up for a really extravagant purchase, the Darth Vadar Supreme Edition Adult Costume comes with everything you need made of heavy-duty injection molds and such amazing detail that you'll think you have the real thing. In fact, the utility belt is an exact replica of the original costume used in the films. Or just pick up a few light sabers and stage your own epic battle right in the comfort of your living room.