'Star Wars' Ushers in Exhibit at Environmental and Heritage Center

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (GEHC) is celebrating the arrival of a new exhibit with three special movie screenings.

Beginning Friday, July 22, the GEHC will show the original Star Wars films on three successive Fridays in the Cisco Blue Planet Theater. “Episode IV – A New Hope” will be shown on July 22, “The Empire Strikes Back” (Episode V) will be shown on July 29 and “Return of the Jedi” (Episode VI) will be shown on August 5.

The space themed films were chosen to herald the opening of the Living in Space exhibit, which will be at GEHC from Sept. 12 through Dec. 31. The exhibit allows visitors to take on the role of International Space Station (ISS) crewmembers. Guests perform various astronaut activities such as planning their day in space, simulated science experiments and other daily living activities.

“Star Wars captivated me as a young child because it exposed me to the possibilities of space. Here was this unlimited frontier with exciting worlds and people,” said Jason West, GEHC Director of Development in a released statement.  “I can’t think of a better way to get ready for this exciting exhibit on space.”

Special guests at the movie screening will include members of the 501st Legion and Mall of Georgia Museum Replicas Limited Store staff dressed as various Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Storm Troopers, and various Jedi Knights.

Visitors are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Star Wars characters.

Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children. GEHC members are admitted free. Movie concessions will be available for purchase. All three films will begin at 7 p.m.

The Living in Space exhibit was created by the Children’s Museum of Memphis and is sponsored locally by Cisco and the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center Foundation.

“I hope to see you at all of these showings as we celebrate the power of the ‘Green’ side,” added West.

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center is located at 2020 Clean Water Drive in Buford. For more information, visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.