Get ready to geek out at Sayville Fan Fest

Fun for all ages awaits visitors this Saturday at the Sayville Public Library’s annual Comic Con-style event, Fan Fest.

“Star Wars” is the theme for this year’s Sayville Fan Fest, which takes place at the library from 11 a.m.to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. Staff members will be dressed up as their favorite characters while members of the dark side, the 501st Legion, will cosplay as soldiers and characters from the franchise’s villains.

Cosplayers from the Endor Temple will also be in attendance, conducting Padawan training for up-and-coming Jedi lightsaber masters. Remote-control “pod races” will also take place in addition to a “Star Wars” retro arcade and Cantina. Along with the “Star Wars”-theming and events, food trucks and over 40 vendors of collectible wares are scheduled to attend.

“Fan Fest is our version of Comic Con,” said Sayville Public Library emerging technologies librarian, Alex Cranshaw. “It’s a great day… There’s something for everyone.”

Attendees are encouraged to arrive dressed in their favorite character costume from any franchise, with a costume contest open to anyone of any fandom to give out prizes for best child, teen, and adult costumes. Genesis Comics and Gaming will also be hosting a trading card game swap meet for collectors of games like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering.

The American Airpower Museum Band will also be returning to perform music, including classic pieces from “Star Wars,” composed by John Williams. A retro arcade is also returning to the library’s history room.

While Fan Fest takes place on Saturday, the fun begins Thursday night at the Sayville Theater. For the first time, the Sayville Public Library has partnered with the theater to host a special screening of the original 1977 edition of “Star Wars” on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets are only $5, which includes popcorn and soda.

“A bunch of staff members, myself included, are going to be there dressed up in cosplay, celebrating,” Cranshaw said. “We’re doing raffles; it’s going to be a really fun night.”

Cranshaw said Chewbacca, a few Jedis, R2D2, and Princess Leia are expected to make appearances, among other characters.

The Sayville Public Library usually sees around 1,600 attendees throughout Fan Fest, and Cranshaw said this year’s event is the library’s biggest, and is hoping to see even more crowds.