UPDATE: *** POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER.
Previously known as “Lightsaber Battles,” the tour was forced to change its “Lightsaber Battle” name by legal settlement with Lucasfilm. With its new name, "Space Battles," the event will take over Embarcadero Marina Park South on Friday, May 6 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The concept will be the same, inviting guests to come together to have massive battles with glowing weapons.
The tour was recently forced to change its name from “The Light Battle Tour” by a legal settlement with Lucasfilm, which is now owned by Disney. Lucasfilm believed people would too easily confuse the name and the glowing swords offered by the tour with “lightsabers.” “In December 2015, we promoted four events as “Lightsaber Battles,” something we have done for eight years without incident. In January 2016, we received a cease-and-desist letter from Lucasfilm’s attorneys,” explains Kevin Bracken, co-founder of Newmindspace. The new name of the tour is Cats in Space Tour, and instead of each event being called a “Light Battle,” they will be called Space Battles. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume, whether that is a character from their favorite sci-fi universe, or with cat ears and whiskers.
The event is free, but participants can register online at catsinspacetour.com for $10 to receive a glowing sword, and each tour stop benefits the local Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter by donating a portion of the proceeds. “We are excited to get back on the road, put on some huge, family-friendly events, and raise money for the amazing work that Make-A-Wish does,” said Kevin Bracken, tour co-founder. Along with co-founder Lori Kufner, the pair have been organizing free, all-ages events such as giant pillow fights, bubble blowing parties and subway celebrations around North America since 2005.
8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, May 6. Embarcadero Marina Park South, 111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, California 92101. All ages. Free or $10 donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation. More info at http://bit.ly/SDSpaceBattle or catsinspacetour.com