May the 4th in New Hope expands from a one-day, 12-business activation into a four-day, 60-business celebration running May 1 through 4, 2026. Presented by the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce, the weekend turns the town into a walkable Star Wars-themed experience with themed cocktails, specialty menus, retail promotions, costume discounts, and interactive moments at independently owned restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries, and specialty shops throughout New Hope. Admission is free. Each business brings its own interpretation, and the result is a town-wide event that feels organic, creative, and constantly evolving as you move from one storefront to the next.
The 501st Legion at May the 4th in New Hope
The marquee moment of May the 4th in New Hope arrives Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. when members of the 501st Legion — Garrison Carida — walk through town in highly detailed, screen-accurate costumes. The volunteer-based costuming group adds a visual element that transforms the streets from themed shopping into something closer to a film set, giving visitors a chance to interact and take photos with stormtroopers, Sith Lords, and bounty hunters between stops at local businesses.

Themed Cocktails and Food for May the 4th in New Hope
The bar and restaurant programming across May the 4th in New Hope runs deep. Reed’s Breakfast Bar opens with a Baby Yoda Vanilla Nitro Cold Brew topped with matcha whipped cream and Baby Yoda Sweet Stacks with lightsaber skewers. Bird’s Nest Bar and Grille pours a Baby Yoda with Malibu, Midori, and pineapple alongside a Dark Side and Stormy and a Jedi Julep with Thomas Jefferson Bourbon. Fran’s Pub serves the Tatooine Sunrise.
Oldestone Steakhouse goes all in with a Darth Mauled — mezcal, fresh espresso, chocolate bitters — and a Jedi Mind Sip alongside a $5/$10 specials menu featuring oysters, wings, tacos, and cocktails. GreenHouse New Hope offers a Lightsaber Lineup Shot Flight, a Grogu Martini, and a complimentary Black Spire Mousse with any entrée for costumed guests. Nomad Distilling Company pours six $10 Star Wars cocktails, including Solar Flare, Rebel Bloom, and Black Orbit. Spatola’s Pizza adds Endor’s Forest Pizza and the Spicy Chewbacca Pizza with buffalo chicken and french fries.

Retail Promotions Across May the 4th in New Hope
Dozens of New Hope businesses are offering costume-based discounts for May the 4th in New Hope — 5 to 20 percent off for showing up in Star Wars gear or saying “May the force be with you.” Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles runs a Jar Jar Sale at 20 percent off. Goody Bag and Basket Co. drops Star Wars Pez to 50 percent off. Dark Side of the Wood gives away a complimentary handcrafted wooden guitar pick. The Den offers a free New Hope Star Wars T-shirt with any $20 purchase.
Wax N Scent Studio invites guests to create custom candles during Star Wars Week with a comp crystal or fragrance upgrade in costume. Doubles by Human Robot offers complimentary Milk Tubes of Tmavy 13 Beer to guests 21 and older who say “Milk the tubes be with you.” Sweet Repeat Records runs a drawing for a Star Wars Picture Disc Album, and Bucks County Playhouse hosts Star Wars Quizzo in the courtyard on May 3.
Why May the 4th in New Hope Keeps Growing
Chamber of Commerce President Michael Sklar framed the weekend directly — it shows exactly what New Hope does best. It is creative, artsy, and with 60 small businesses putting their own spin on it, the entire town becomes an experience. The event is driven almost entirely by independently owned businesses, and the expansion from 12 participants to 60 in a single year reflects both the enthusiasm of the merchant community and the drawing power of a concept that rewards exploration rather than anchoring visitors in one location. Philadelphia’s first weekend of May is already loaded with street-level programming, and New Hope’s four-day Star Wars weekend gives Bucks County its own anchor event for the same stretch.
May the 4th in New Hope runs May 1 through 4, 2026, throughout New Hope, Pennsylvania. The 501st Legion walks the town Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. Individual businesses set their own pricing on specials. For a full list of participating businesses, visit visitnewhope.com.
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