Lightsabre record bid at sci-fi weekend

Calling all Jedi-wannabes. It is time to dig out the lightsabre and hyperspeed it along to the Heritage Motor Centre for the weekend of July 9 and 10, when there will be an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest Light Sabre battle.

You can either bring along your own weapon or make one on the day and join in.

The record attempt is part of a sci-fi weekend at the centre, when visitors can enjoy close encounters with some of the stars of movie and TV classics of the genre.

On the Saturday, Colin Baker, the sixth Doctor Who, Mark Silk, the voice actor in Star Wars for Aks Moe, and Rusty Goffe, who played Jawa in Star Wars Episode IV, will be attending.

On the Sunday R2D2, aka Kenny Baker, Mike Edmunds, who played an Ewok, and Rusty will be there to meet and greet fans.

A "Sci-Fi at the Movies" exhibition will feature original weapons, artefacts and costumes from films, on loan from the private collection of Skywalker Promotions.

Dave Matthews from the Creaky Cauldron, Stratford-upon-Avon's unofficial wizard, will be hosting special workshops over the two days where children can learn how to make a wand, how to create spells and how to be a wizard or witch.

Dave will also be running an old fashioned, fully functioning apothecary using a selection of traditional herbs, roots and incense.

In addition, there will be special exhibits, tours, quizzes, story-telling, fancy dress competitions and craft activities. Visitors are encouraged to come in fancy dress and have their photo taken with the characters and celebrities. They can also watch a selection of movies in the cinema and buy official sci-fi merchandise.

There will be sci-fi fun throughout the summer holidays as well with the 'Sci-Fi at the Movies' exhibition, daily quizzes and other activities, including family craft activity Thursdays, running from July 23-Sept 4.

There is no extra charge for the sci-fi events as it is all included in the standard museum entry fees which are £11 for adults and £8 for children aged five to 16. Under-fives get in free. Concessions are priced at £9 and a family ticket is £34.

For more information visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk