‘Star Wars’ weekend arrives in Modesto

Those who waited in 36-degree temperatures to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” were rewarded by being among the first to see the movie.

On what could have passed for a warm day on the ice planet Hoth, a small band of “Star Wars” fans began to gather at Regal Modesto Stadium 10 on Thursday morning, nearly two full hours before a posted sign said lines would be allowed to form.

There was no worry of being asked to leave, though, for one of the three was a Regal security employee. “I know nobody’s here,” John Rodriguez said as he, girlfriend Tiffany Saefong and friend Dale Walbert sat in folding chairs in the chilly morning air. Basically, the theater didn’t want people camping overnight, he said.

Walbert said he arrived about 5:50 a.m. The other two joined him an hour later.

If his employer hadn’t posted its sign about lines, Rodriguez said, “I would have camped out. I would have gotten straight off work last night and come over here.”

For his part, Walbert said, “If I’d seen anyone camping here, I would have. But I drove by last night and didn’t see anyone.”

When tickets went on sale Oct. 19, Walbert spent about two hours on Fandango.com to get his. Rodriguez bought 20 of them at the Regal box office that day, all for Thursday’s 7 p.m. show. The rest of his group would be arriving throughout the day.

The “Star Wars” mania that has gripped the country shows no sign of abating in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

“Star Wars” fans can strike a blow for the rebellion – and for another good cause – during a fundraiser Saturday outside Brenden Theatres in downtown Modesto.

The event, including costumed “Star Wars” characters, laser tag, and other games and activities, will be from 1 to 5 p.m. and will benefit the Children’s Crisis Center of Stanislaus County.

“The Children’s Crisis Center of Stanislaus County was selected (to benefit) because of the kind of work they do,” Scott Simpson, a member of the Central California Garrison of the costuming group the 501st Legion, told The Bee in an email. “We prefer to do work with children’s charities, especially for groups where we might be able to provide something that wouldn’t be otherwise available.”

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 5:12 PM with the headline "‘Star Wars’ weekend arrives in Modesto."