Stormtroopers Take Over Beach: Star Wars Fans Unite in Seaside Town

Cleveleys is a small seaside town in Lancashire, England, but it has become a famous spot for Star Wars fans from all over the world. This all started when Disney chose Cleveleys as a filming location for the Star Wars series Andor. Jessica Monger, a huge Star Wars fan who grew up in California near George Lucas, moved to Cleveleys in 2012. She was thrilled when she found out that her new home would be featured in a Star Wars show. Now, Cleveleys is known as the place where Stormtroopers patrol the beach, and fans gather to celebrate their love for the franchise.

Jessica says she still gets excited thinking about how her town became part of Star Wars history. She remembers growing up surrounded by Star Wars fans in California, but she never expected to find the same excitement in a small English town. When the Andor series was filmed in Cleveleys, the town was transformed into the planet Niamos. After the filming ended, Jessica and her friend Neil Trickett decided to organize a public event for fans. They met online and quickly made plans for a free meet-up at the filming location.

The event has grown every year, with hundreds of fans attending from places as far away as eastern Europe. People dress up as their favorite characters, like Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, and even the pig-like Gamorrean Guards. One of the highlights is a replica of the droid K-S20, where fans can recreate a famous scene from Andor. Jessica loves seeing people of all ages enjoying the event together. She says it is amazing to watch children and adults interact, all brought together by their love of Star Wars.

Local residents are often surprised to see people in Star Wars costumes walking along the beach. Some visitors come to Cleveleys without knowing about the event and are delighted to find Stormtroopers and other characters on the promenade. Jessica enjoys watching the reactions of people and even pets, like dogs, who are confused by the costumes. She says that seeing kids get excited about meeting their heroes is one of her favorite parts of the event.

This year, the Star Wars meet-up will take place on Sunday, from 10:30 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. Fans will have the chance to take photos, buy merchandise, and talk about their favorite movies. Jessica feels lucky to live in a place that has become so important to Star Wars fans. She believes that Cleveleys is now a special destination for people who love the franchise. The town has embraced its new identity, and Jessica is proud to be part of the community that brings Star Wars to life on the beach.