If your force is awakening, maybe Friday night's Lightsaber Battle in downtown Los Angeles is for you.

The event, timed to celebrate the latest Star Wars release, will include an attempt at a new world record for the largest concurrent lightsaber battle during a 24-hour period, says Kevin Bracken, co-founder of organizer Newmindspace.

The world record is 7,000 combatants, he said. Friday's attempt at Pershing Square will be part of a 10,100-lightsaber try, Bracken told us.

The number will be bolstered by participants in San Francisco the same night and in San Diego and Seattle on Saturday, he said. More than 3,000 are expected at Pershing Square tomorrow night.

“It'll be the world's largest lightsaber battle over 24 hours,” Bracken said.

Organizers sold out of the 3,000 $5 and $10 lightsabers reserved for the L.A. event.

“It's completely free if you bring your own,” he said. “People can still come.”

Newminsdpace has been organizing the events for eight years and has yet to hear anything negative from Star Wars' owners, Lucasfilm and Disney, Bracken said.


In fact, the event tomorrow is being supported by the city of Los Angeles, he said. The parks department is facilitating a DJ, a cash bar and a food truck for the festivities.

“It's really cool of them,” Bracken said.

People are invited to come at 8 p.m. The battle starts at 9 p.m. And the party will continue until 11 p.m.

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