You Can’t Bring Your Lightsaber to Nationals Park on Star Wars Day

The Washington Nationals are really playing up Sunday’s promotion of Star Wars Day. But fans planning to attend in costume are going to develop a bad feeling when they read a press release from the team about rules for the special day.

“Fans are invited to come dressed in their favorite Star Wars attire,” the team says. “However, adults are not allowed to wear masks that cover their face. Young children under the age of 10 can wear masks when accompanied by an adult 21 years or older. Children wearing masks must be accompanied by an adult throughout the duration of the game. Any props resembling weapons will not be allowed into Nationals Park (this includes lightsabers and toy guns).”

In other words, leave your Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Stormtrooper, and Greedo costumes at home. Even worse, the ban on toy lightsabers means anyone planning on dressing up as a Jedi knight will just be someone who wore a bathrobe and sweatpants to a crowded baseball stadium in mid-July.

This is going to be the worst Life Day ever.

Benjamin Freed

Staff Writer

Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.