A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away –  well actually 2011 in Toronto – the first organised celebration of Star Wars Day took place. Since then, May the 4^th has been recognised globally as a day for people to show appreciation for the franchise they love so much.  Whether you’re a casual fan, or a hardcore Jedi, we’ve put a list of things to do today to help you be at one with The Force.

1. Have a Star Wars Marathon – Excluding the anthology movies, Episode I to IX will take you 20 hours and 39 minutes to watch. If you don’t want that level of commitment, pick your faves. If the movies aren’t your cup of tea, try any of the fantastic Star Wars series on Disney Plus. Bonus points, if you introduce a Star Wars newbie to the franchise.

2. Drink some blue milk – Turn your house into Oga’s Cantina and sample the local delicacies. Not sure of the ingredients? Try Nerdgeist’s own recipe here.

3. Play some games – Whether it be a board game, a card game, or a video game, there is no shortage of play to be had in the Star Wars Universe. Classics like Cluedo and Monopoly are available on Amazon, and Cards Against Humanity have even brought out their own Star Wars version. If you’re short on cash, there are a plethora of free gaming apps like Star Wars Hunters. And if you’ve played all the games in the galaxy? Be sure to pre-order Star Wars Outlaws which comes out on August 30th.

4. Get some precious cargo – May the 4th is the perfect time to expand your Star Wars merch collection, with lots of websites putting on Star Wars Day deals. Don’t want to spend the day trawling through the web? No worries, we’ve done it for you and put together a list of the best gifts in the galaxy here.

5. Get crafty – There are entire websites dedicated to Star Wars arts and crafts, and DIY, and there’s no limit to the cool items you can make. Whether you want to create balloon Lightsabers, Yoda ears, or a X-wing origami, there’s something for everyone out there. Our personal favourite is this R2D2 bin.

6. Make a difference – Star Wars has reached so many people across the world that associated charities have sprung up because of it. Disney and Lucasfilm paired up to create Force for Change. The 501st Legion, a non-profit organisation, was created to promote interest in Star Wars but has branched out to work with charities and have created their own Make a Wish Endowment Fund to grant Star Wars related wishes. And UK based charity JokerSquad raises money for charity through appearances in Star Wars costumes. Whether you make a donation, join the groups, share their missions on social media, or even just read up about them, every little helps to make the galaxy a better place.

7. Listen to the sounds of the galaxy – A great alternative if you don’t have time to watch the movies, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music all have a fantastic collection of playlists showcasing the music of Star Wars. Whether you want epic battle music, relaxing melodies, or uptempo energisers, there’s something for everyone.

8. Dress up – Cosplaying as your favourite characters is a perfect way to celebrate the day, and you can get inspiration from all over the internet to help you with your costume. If your cosplaying isn’t your thing, that’s okay, there’s plenty of Star Wars t-shirts, hats, socks, etc. that you can wear to show your Star Wars pride.

9. Read up – There’s a plethora of Star Wars literature out there just waiting to be discovered. Whether it be comics, novels, or non-fiction, there’s a book for every type of reader. Amazon Prime sometimes has deals to get free Star Wars e-books so keep your eyes peeled. Lost and don’t know what to pick? Our personal recommendation is A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller.

10. Visit Star Wars land – This one may be tricky if you’re not in the California/Florida area but if you are head on down to Disney so you can truly immerse yourself into the Star Wars universe. If you’re not a local, then maybe you can start planning a trip. We visited last year and we can safely say it’s worth all the credits.

Whatever way you choose to celebrate Star Wars Day, have fun and May the Fourth Force Be With You!