The Dark Sky Festival

The 501st Legion had a small presence at the Dark Sky Festival, in Harmony Florida on April 25th. The Dark Sky Festival promotes awareness of light pollution, and ways to reduce it, so that astronomers can more easily view the stars through telescopes. Light pollution also can be harmful to wildlife who are accustomed to blackness at night. As our population has grown, so has the light "cloud" that hangs over cities and neighborhoods at night.

Harmony is a new community that uses the latest environmental conservation technologies to reduce water and power consumption, as well as to make the skies darker. There were a lot of vendors, exhibits, live music, and, of course, telescopes, but we were among the most popular attractions there. We were mobbed with people wanting to take pictures with us! All in all, a fun, easygoing troop. Enjoy the pictures!




This little girl wanted to be placed "under arrest" by the Imperial Empire. I think this is my favorite picture!













Markus in his Clone Trooper armor signs autographs, as do I (see below). I've never had so many people ask em for my autograph! Below left, Otter in the biker scout armor signs her autograph on Mardiesel's back, in the stormtrooper armor.

As the night progressed, we stopped a few cars pulling into the festival, asking if they had seen the droids we're looking for, and if they knew where Darth Vader was. When we were trying to get back to the staging area so we could cool down a bit, so many people were asking us for pictures, I finally had to make an announcement to the crowd that we had to leave the area for a few minutes but we would be back. We were popular!










"You're all prisoners of the Imperial Empire!"

















Worn out after a long troop. It was a great time, and afterward, the organizers treated us to dinner. Troops like this are so much fun, you ought to have a license!