Star Wars Fest coming to Hudson Fields Aug. 27
The cinematic landscape was forever changed when “Star Wars” was released 45 years ago, and on Saturday, Aug. 27, The Revival House and Beebe Medical Foundation will give Sussex County a chance to see it as it was meant to be viewed: on an oversized screen with the audience being transported to a galaxy far, far away.
The creators of Jaws Fest and Jurassic Fest come back to Hudson Fields with their biggest fundraising event yet: Star Wars Fest, beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27, with all proceeds going to benefit local nonprofit Beebe Healthcare.
The free event will feature live music by Fitzkee Brothers and Electric Smoke, craft beer, wine, artisanal cocktails, a fleet of food trucks, local artists and vendors, Star Wars-themed games for families, and a costume contest for all with prizes awarded to the winners. Also, for all the craft beer enthusiasts, Revelation Brewery will create a beer just for Star Wars Fest called Jedi Juice IPA.
“Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon soon after its release in May 1977, helping coin the term “blockbuster” as audiences wrapped around the block to witness the space opera on the screen. The film has since spawned an entire industry and has remained a beloved institution for millions around the globe.
“The last time the original ‘Star Wars’ was available to view theatrically was back in 1997,” said Rob Rector of Revival House, a self-professed Star Wars nerd. “That means there is an entire generation that has only been able to view it on their TVs, laptops or smartphones. We wanted them to be able to view it in all the grandeur we remember when we first watched it.”
Revival House’s Rob Waters, another Star Wars aficionado, agrees. “We’ve been hosting fun movie events at Hudson Fields for the past couple of years, but this one hits really close to home for me,” Waters said. “To see the original ‘Star Wars’ on a Death Star-sized screen with a group of people is really exciting.”
The Revival House screenings are free and open to the public, but attendees are asked to make a donation at the front gate. The past two events have raised more than $40,000 for Beebe and the frontline workers who have dedicated so much of their time and talent to help during the ongoing COVID pandemic.
Gates will open at 5 p.m., with music to start around 5:15. The screening will begin shortly after dusk, around 8 p.m., when Hudson Fields gets transformed into the Dark Side. For a full list of vendors and activities, visit revivalhousetheater.com.
