Star Wars Weekends was a special event held on four or five consecutive spring and summer weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The event featured Star Wars characters, special celebrity guests and various shows and events. After being held in 1997, 2000 and 2001, the event occurred annually from 2003 to 2015.
An "opening crawl" was released by Disney for 2013's Star Wars Weekends.
The first Star Wars Weekends took place over five weeks at then-named Disney-MGM Studios theme park starting on February 21st, 1997 — the release date of the Special Edition of . Special guests for that first event included Kenny Baker, Jeremy Bulloch, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and David Prowse. The event returned in 2000 and 2001, then returned once more in 2003 and then continued as an annual event.
The Weekends continued to be held after Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, but the company announced on November 9th, 2015 that the event would be discontinued due to the larger presence of Star Wars in the park and the upcoming Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge expansion.
- February 21-23, February 28-March 2, March 7-9, March 14-16, March 21-23
- May 5-7, May 12-14, May 19-21, May 26-28
- May 4-6, May 11-13, May 18-20, May 25-27
- May 16-18, May 23-25, May 30-June 1, June 6-8, June 13-15
- May 14-16, May 21-23, May 28-30, June 4-6, June 11-13
- May 20-22, May 27-29, June 3-4, June 10-12, June 17-19, June 24-26
- May 19-21, May 26-28, June 2-4, June 9-11
- June 1-3, June 8-10, June 15-17, June 22-24
- June 6-8, June 13-15, June 20-22, June 27-29
- May 22-24, May 29-31, June 5-7, June 12-14
- May 21-23, May 28-30, June 4-6, June 11-13
- May 20-22, May 27-29, June 3-5, June 10-12
- May 18-20, May 25-27, June 1-3, June 8-10
- May 17-19, May 24-26, May 31-June 2, June 7-9
- May 16-18, May 23-25, May 30-June 1, June 6-8
- May 15-17, May 22-24, May 29-31, June 5-7, June 12-14
"Jedi Mickey" and other Disney characters lead the Legends of the Force motorcade in 2015
The specific events of Star Wars Weekends varied from year to year. There were many recurring events with minor variations and different titles. Smaller events and different activities not listed below also took place through the Weekends.
- — A parade featuring many Star Wars characters and the day's celebrity guests. The motorcade traveled down the park's Hollywood Boulevard and ended at the event stage where the host welcomed the celebrities. Many of these parades featured the 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion fan groups marching in costumes.
- — In addition to traditional Disney characters dressed in their Star Wars costumes (the "Jedi Mickey" character originated at the event), a number of Star Wars characters from the films and television series appeared for photo opportunities and autographs. Characters have included Clone Captain Rex, Ahsoka Tano, Queen Amidala, Aurra Sing, Boba Fett, Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca (often wearing a backpack containing a dismantled C-3PO), Clone troopers, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Ewoks, Jango Fett, Jawas, Palpatine, Shaak Ti, Greedo, Stormtroopers, Tusken Raiders, Kit Fisto, Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, Boushh, and Zam Wesell. Most characters were in set locations with themed backdrops but some roamed the parks freely and posed for photos with guests.
- Jedi Training Academy — Based on the teachings and practices of the Jedi Knights from the Star Wars films, the experience depends heavily on audience participation, focusing on children. Each participant is given a training lightsaber and Jedi robes and taught a routine set of swordfighting moves. It originally was a part of Star Wars Weekends only, but in October 2006 it began appearing as a permanent, stand-alone show at Disneyland and in 2007 at Walt Disney World. After the last of the Weekends in 2015, a new updated experience debuted as Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.
- — A Star Wars trivia contest for children up to 11 years old. The event was introduced at the 2001 Weekends and held until the last ones in 2015. A companion trivia contest for ages 12 and up called was only held in 2001.
- Symphony in the Stars — In this show that debuted at the 2014 Weekends (based on earlier versions first seen at the Last Tour to Endor event in 2010 and other special events) Star Wars characters presented a large fireworks display featuring John Williams' original music, with voices and sound effects from the Star Wars saga. After the last of the Weekends in 2015, the show started a regular run at Disney's Hollywood Studios that December under the title Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular. It was eventually replaced June2016 by the updated Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular.
- — Also known within the show as , this live stage show premiered at the 2001 event, replacing 2000's . It was a comedic "over-the-top" show hosted by galactic entertainers Snig and Oopla, including music and costumed Star Wars characters dancing. It included a "Dance-Off with the Star Wars Stars" segment featuring characters competing in groups against each other in a dance competition. A version of this show was included in the "Last Tour to Endor" event, which was part of 2010's Star Wars Celebration V. In 2013, Emperor Palpatine "hijacked" the show and renamed it "Emperor Palpatine's Hyperspace Hoopla", leading to a massive dance-off. The show was "retired" after 2013 and replaced by the in 2014 and 2015.
- — This live show featuring video segments gave a behind-the-scenes look at various Star Wars productions. The theme varied over the years, first focusing on the original films and the in-production prequels. Hosts of this earlier version included Jay Laga'aia and Warwick Davis. From 2009 to 2015 the shows focused on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels and were hosted by Ashley Eckstein.
- — Presented on stage by the Weekends' celebrity host, the talk-show format event featured interviews with various celebrity guests as well as Q&A segments with the audience.
- — A live 30-minute talk show at the Theater for the Stars hosted by James Arnold Taylor, started as part of the 2011 Weekends. Taylor demonstrated nearly 150 voices that he provides for famous Hollywood stars who are not available for projects as well as characters for television shows, animated films and video games.
- — A martial arts demonstration by Darth Maul actor Ray Park, who also trains children with lightsabers and talks about his time as Maul. It was held at the Weekends from 2012 to 2015.
- — Interactive attraction located at ABC Sound Studio in 2012, where guests were able to have their face scanned and reproduced in a prism of carbonite, which was then available for purchase.
Each weekend featured autograph sessions with Star Wars actors, voice actors, crew members and authors, with some participating in other events as well. Starting with 2006, the events featured a celebrity host or celebrity co-hosts, with Warwick Davis as the first. Other hosts included Jay Laga'aia, Jeremy Bulloch, Ashley Eckstein, and James Arnold Taylor. Eckstein and Taylor filled the role the most times, but both also hosted specific shows and events over the years.
Exclusive Star Wars merchandise was available each year at Star Wars Weekends, including clothing, collectible pins, posters, Star Tours action figure sets and other toys. Aside from the park's existing retail locations such as Tatooine Traders, the events featured temporary stores named with Star Wars related puns including Jabba's Hutt, Wicket's Warehouse, Boba's Bounty, Dark Side Depot, Watto's Grotto, and Darth's Mall. Books signings with various authors were sometimes held at some of these locations. Star Wars-themed food items were also available throughout the park's various food stands and restaurants.