The three-day STAR WARS DAY: MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU Festival – a never-before STAR WARS extravaganza in Singapore, concluded on a high note this evening with the inaugural STAR WARS RUN Singapore 2017. The fully-subscribed thematic night run saw 15,000 local and overseas participants, clearly divided between the Dark and Light sides of the Force at The Meadow at Gardens by the Bay. With experiences themed around the brand’s memorable stories and out-of-this-world characters, the run delighted both amateur and professional runners, as well as STAR WARS fans.
[Press release] Singapore, 6 May 2017 – The three-day STAR WARS DAY: MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU Festival – a never-before STAR WARS extravaganza in Singapore, concluded on a high note this evening with the inaugural STAR WARS RUN Singapore 2017. The fully-subscribed thematic night run saw 15,000 local and overseas participants, clearly divided between the Dark and Light sides of the Force at The Meadow at Gardens by the Bay.
In celebration of both ‘May the 4th’ and the 40th anniversary since the release of Star Wars: A New Hope, the run was organised by local event organiser Esprimo and The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia, with event partner Gardens by the Bay and supported by Singapore Tourism Board. With experiences themed around the brand’s memorable stories and out-of-this-world characters, the run delighted both amateur and professional runners, as well as STAR WARS fans.
Both the 4.5km and 10km run were flagged-off with much fanfare as pyrotechnics fired up the spirits of the runners and lit up the Singapore night sky with a myriad of colours. Also at the flag-off were Chewbacca, one of the heroes of the Rebellion and Kylo Ren, the dark warrior from the First Order who made their first appearance in Southeast Asia.
Drawn to the thematic experience complete with light projections, music and multiple STAR WARS photo opportunities en route, 10,000 runners took on the 4.5km fun run for the ultimate intergalactic adventure through four decades of STAR WARS legacy.
The 10km competitive run which passed through a section of the 4.5km Dark side attracted 5,000 seasoned runners who wanted to challenge their personal best timing.
The run concluded at The Meadow, where a race village was set up with meet and greet sessions with Chewbacca and Kylo Ren, STAR WARS themed activities and an outdoor movie screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. A short distance away at Supertree Grove, the Garden Rhapsody: STAR WARS Edition played a fitting homage to the runners who completed their adventure, which then segued into the magical transformation of the iconic Supertrees into SaberTrees, Southeast Asia’s largest lightsaber installation.
Mr Ang Han Wee, Race Director of the STAR WARS RUN and Founder of local event organiser Esprimo shared, “2017 is a milestone year as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first movie, Star Wars: A New Hope. Of the 15,000 participants, STAR WARS RUN has drawn more than 1,600 overseas participants and it truly reflects the growing fan base in Singapore and the region. The overwhelming response is testament to how STAR WARS continues to inspire generations across, from all walks of life, nationality, ages and even fitness level.”
Among the 1,600 overseas runners was STAR WARS fanatic, Lie Felicia, 33, Marketing Manager who had flown in from Jakarta not just for the STAR WARS RUN but also for the three-day STAR WARS DAY: MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU Festival.
Lie shared: “As a fan, I’ve always looked forward to celebrations planned for May the 4th and I think the festival in Singapore is easily the largest STAR WARS celebration in Southeast Asia this year. I wanted to soak in the celebrations for all three days and I thought it is fitting to conclude my experience with the STAR WARS RUN. Furthermore, the limited-edition collectibles from the 4.5km Dark side is really attractive.”
The STAR WARS legacy which transcends generations is apparent in this three-generation family of 6 that completed the 4.5km run on the Light side
Based in Bangkok, Mr Timothy Loke, 43, a father of 2 shared the appeal of the run: “My family is huge on STAR WARS and we’ve never missed any of the movies. We have thus decided to fly to Singapore for the run and bond over our love for STAR WARS. The run is a wonderful way for three-generations in my family to stay active.”
