Posted Tuesday, November 22, 2016 12:00 pm

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Force was strong with these young ones.

Jedis, Stormtroopers and even Darth Vader himself turned up at the Green Cove Springs Library last Saturday for a Star Wars Celebration. The event was to honor the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which hits theaters next month.

“I’m a longtime Star Wars fan,” Green Cove Springs Branch Manager Jennifer Parker said. “We tend to do a lot of programs here that relate to pop culture, which helps bring in kids and young adults to the library. This event was meant for everyone. It’s multi-generational, because Star Wars has been around for so long. So many generations are into it.”

Kids of all ages, including a few adult kids, filled the library inside and out. Many were dressed up or had their faces painted. The event offered games, crafts, treats, a prize drawing, trivia, a shooting gallery and photo ops with members of the local chapter of the 501st Legion, which is a fan organization that wears replicas of Clone Troopers, Imperial Stormtrooper armor, Sith Lords, bounty hunters and other villains.

“I like Star Wars,” said Ryan Smith, 9. “I’m going to do lightsaber training.”

That training was provided courtesy of the Jedi Academy of North Florida, which put on a martial arts demonstration. Local balloon artist “Mr. C” made balloon lightsabers for the kids. A face painter was on hand to help people who hadn’t painted their faces themselves.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of groups come and give their time,” Parker said. “It’s been a nice day and we’ve had a good turnout. The Friends of the Library supported this event and furnished refreshments.

“We’ve tried to have something for everybody,” she said. “We broke things down into various stations here inside the library and out front and across the street. This something we’re doing really to help generate interest in the library and have people from the community come in.”

The 501st Legion began 19 years ago in South Carolina. It is not officially part of Disney or Lucasfilm, LLC., but it has their blessing to appear at events and wear more than 17,000 approved costumes. The organization has grown to 10,000 members worldwide and is active on six continents. Members often appear at charitable events, hospitals, promotional events, and community events – like at the Green Cove Springs Library.

Often the 501st Legion is requested to appear at Lucasfilm fan events.

Upcoming functions at the Green Cove Springs branch include the December Book discussion of John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas.

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Email Christiaan DeFranco at chris@opcfla.com. Follow him on Twitter @cdefranco.