May 2nd & 3rd, 2026

Free and open to the public, May 4th Social is a family-friendly celebration of creativity, community, and play. Enjoy Star Wars movies, cosplay, food, music, vendors, and more.

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Santa Fe Blount Center | 530 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601

Blount hall strikes back

Santa Fe CIED and Seven Ashes Productions are excited to announce this year’s Star Wars Celebration—now two full days of galactic fun. Even bigger. Even better.

This year, we’re proud to be officially recognized by Lucasfilm as an official “May the 4th” event—a distinction that places our convention among the premier Star Wars fan gatherings worldwide.

Don’t miss your chance to experience more cosplay, vendors, games, and intergalactic adventures than ever before. Lightsabers are optional.

2026 Schedule

Saturday, May 2nd

  • The May 4th Social kicks off!

    Location: Blount Hall, 530 West University Ave Gainesville FL 32601

  • Kid Zone morning session.

    A dedicated space designed for children ages 2–8 to explore creativity and imagination through themed crafts, activities, and stories inspired by the spirit of Star Wars.

    Location: Inside Blount Hall. Free ticket required.

  • Star Wars: Unlimited trading card game workshop.

    Learn how to play Star Wars: Unlimited during a guided trading card game workshop.

    Location: Mos CIED Cantina, inside Blount Hall. Free ticket required.

  • Kid Zone Story Time hosted by the Alachua County Library District.

    Location: Inside Blount Hall. Free ticket required.

  • Force Academy Live.

    Learn the secrets combat forms of the Jedi.

  • Kid Zone afternoon session.

    A dedicated space designed for children ages 2–8 to explore creativity and imagination through themed crafts, activities, and stories inspired by the spirit of Star Wars.

    Location: Inside Blount Hall. Free ticket required.

  • Star Wars Fan Film Race screening and awards.

    Location: Mos CIED Cantina inside Blount Hall. Free ticket required.

  • Joins us for a special screening of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

    Location: Mos CIED Cantina inside Blount Hall. Free ticket required.

  • The May 4th Social closes it’s doors until Sunday, May 3rd at 10 AM.

Sunday, May 3rd

  • The May 4th Social kicks off for a second day of games!

    Location: Blount Hall, 530 West University Ave Gainesville FL 32601

  • Super Smash Bros tournament

    Get ready to battle it out in Super Smash Bros., the fast-paced platform fighting game where players launch, dodge, recover, and compete to be the last fighter standing.

    Location: Inside Blount Hall. Free ticket required.

    Join the battle!

  • The May 4th Social concludes!

Jump into the Kid Zone

Presented by Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency

New for 2026, the Kid Zone is a dedicated space designed for children ages 2–6 to explore creativity and imagination through themed crafts, activities, and stories inspired by the spirit of Star Wars.

Young Padawans will create their Jedi gear, complete training trials, and graduate as Jedi Knights.

The Kid Zone activity schedule is developed in partnership with Santa Fe Little School & Alachua County Library District.

Get your free tickets

Join the Vendor Village

May 4th Social is Gainesville’s sci-fi and pop culture celebration, drawing a high-energy crowd of fans, families, and collectors ready to explore, shop, and engage.

Join the Vendor Village and put your brand in front of an audience that’s actively looking to discover, buy, and connect.

Become a vendor

Silent Auction

Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida is launching a special silent auction at this year’s May 4th Social, featuring a life-size replica of Grogu in his fully functional hover pram.

Stay tuned for more information.

Think you can make a Star Wars Fan Film?

The Star Wars Fan Film Race is a short-form film competition for filmmakers of all experience levels. Participants will create an original, all-ages Star Wars–inspired fan film under five minutes.

Up to 25 films screens will be screened during the Fan Film Premiere on May 2nd at Santa Fe Blount Hall as part of the May 4th Social celebration.

Join the Fan film race

Game Room

Get ready for a weekend of friendly competition, community play, and hands-on gaming.

On Saturday, May 2, learn how to play Star Wars: Unlimited during a guided trading card game workshop. On Sunday, test your skills in our Super Smash Bros. tournament.

New to tabletop? Ready to compete? Just looking to connect with fellow fans? The Game Room is built for players of all levels.

Visit the Game Room page to view times, learn more, and reserve your spot.

Join the fun
Join the fun

Be Part of the Experience

Partner with Santa Fe CIED and Seven Ashes Productions to bring this year’s May 4th Social vision to life and put your brand front and center.

Three ways to get your business involved

Donor

Provide goods or resources that support event activities and programming.

Sponsor

Sponsors bring key moments to life while putting their brand front and center.

Partner

Partners work with our team to help develop and run key parts of the event.

Get involved

Not a business or vendor? Click here to volunteer.

2026 Contributors

The following business have contributed to keep the May 4th Social free and accessible to our community.

Partners

Donors

Sponsors

Highlights from last year’s epic adventure.

A man and woman stand in front of a sci-fi themed background resembling a spaceship interior, with the man holding a blue lightsaber and the woman holding a red lightsaber, both smiling.
Two people with colored hair and fantasy costumes holding LED light sabers, standing on a rocky terrain with a sci-fi landscape and pink sky in the background.
A person dressed as a clone trooper from Star Wars standing in front of a formation of other clone troopers on a battlefield with a dark, cloudy sky in the background.
A man dressed as a Star Wars clone trooper stands in front of a large group of stormtroopers, with a dark, dystopian cityscape background.
A person dressed as a sci-fi soldier or clone trooper from Star Wars, standing inside a spaceship corridor with windows showing space and Earth in the background, holding a rifle.
Person wearing a Mandalorian helmet and dark jacket, holding a glowing sword, standing in a green foggy, dystopian street scene
A young girl in a colorful polka dot dress and sandals is playing with a toy lightsaber, pretending to battle against robotic figures in a sci-fi setting.
Two people practicing a lightsaber duel with neon lightsabers inside a traditional Japanese-style room.
Two women are smiling and dancing with a figure dressed as Darth Vader from Star Wars in a spaceship corridor.
Star Wars clone troopers in a battle scene with smoke and rubble, aiming their blasters.
A person in a hooded black cloak holding a red lightsaber in a dark, foggy forest during nighttime, with trees and mist in the background.
Four people dressed in Star Wars costumes and casual clothing standing inside the Millennium Falcon set from Star Wars, with a large model of the spaceship behind them.
Three people dressed as Star Wars characters standing in a sci-fi corridor, with colorful lights reflecting off the metallic floor.
Three people standing on an alien landscape with rocky formations and two moons in the sky. The person on the left is wearing a black shirt, beige pants, and brown gloves, holding a tool. The person in the middle is wearing a white cardigan and flora
Man in tactical gear holding a gun and a glowing lightsaber in front of a futuristic cityscape with neon signs
A person in Mandalorian armor from the Star Wars series standing in front of a group of other Mandalorians and a woman holding a rifle, in a desert-like setting.
A soldier in full armor and a helmet with a visor, holding a weapon, standing in front of a large formation of stormtroopers on a desolate, alien landscape with fortress-like structures in the background.
A woman and a young girl posing with Star Wars characters and toys in a sci-fi corridor background. The girl is holding a green lightsaber, the woman is touching a green Baby Yoda figure, and there are robot figures including R2-D2 and C-3PO.
Two people dressed as Star Wars characters, holding lightsabers, standing in a sci-fi corridor setting.
A woman with curly hair and glasses smiling and holding a remote control standing next to a young man in a wheelchair, holding a green lightsaber, inside a sci-fi themed structure surrounded by lush green plants and ferns.
A man and a woman standing together in front of a rainforest-themed backdrop with large trees, moss, and a large moon in the sky.
A man and a woman are in a sci-fi corridor, seemingly pushing against an electrical or energy force between them that appears as blue and purple lightning.
Three children standing in a museum with a Star Wars theme, holding toy lightsabers; two boys and one girl, with a Baby Yoda figure in front of them, and a background of display cases and bust sculptures.
Two women dressed as characters from Star Wars in a sci-fi setting with a large circular door in the background. One woman holds a green lightsaber and the other holds a staff, both smiling.
A young girl in a red dress holding a green lightsaber, smiling as an adult woman with a red visor hands her a blue lightsaber in a Star Wars-themed setting with children dressed as Jedi.
Three children playing with toy lightsabers on a stormy beach, with large waves crashing in the background and snow or rain falling.
Person dressed in a dark cloak with a skull-like mask, surrounded by red-tinged smoke or mist, creating a mysterious and ominous atmosphere.
A person dressed as a Mandalorian from Star Wars, holding a small Baby Yoda (Grogu), standing outdoors at sunset on a rocky terrain with a landscape and colorful sky in the background.

Meet your hosts

Seven Ashes is the go-to creative partner for business growth, specializing in fast, exceptional video campaigns and content. We specialize in empowering businesses and nonprofts through creative partnership.

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Santa Fe College’s Center for Innovation and Economic Development is where entrepreneurs, innovators, and organizations come together to build, grow, and thrive.

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