There was a line down the block for the Whistler's 'Star Wars' cantina party

@PFTompkins @ScottAukerman wish you guys could have been @WhistlerChicago to help lead the band! #MosEiserman pic.twitter.com/ilxeWvKyt7

— Diana R (@dianskaaa) December 17, 2015

In October, the staff at the Whistler announced that it would be celebrating the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by turning the bar into a scene from a galaxy far, far away. On Wednesday night, that idea came into fruition as the Logan Square spot transformed into the Mos Eisley Cantina, the grimy watering hole on Tatooine where Luke and Obi-Wan met Han Solo and Chewbacca in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. There were galactic-themed cocktails, including "Blue Milk," "Cloud City" and "Han Shot First." The house band dressed up as Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes and performed renditions of original Star Wars trilogy tunes (including the ubiquitous "Cantina Band" song). And the crowd fit right in, as Logan Square is already a wretched hive of scum, villainy and cocktail bars.

It was a great concept, but the folks at the bar had no idea what they had gotten themselves into. Word of the event spread like wildfire, and Star Wars nerds across the Chicago area went bananas—our post alone got more than 14,000 shares. By early in the evening on Wednesday, a huge line of Jedi, Wookiees and Stormtroopers stretched more than two blocks around the corner, waiting to celebrate the return of one of the most beloved silver screen sagas. 

Near the end of a two block-long line for the #StarWars party at @WhistlerChicago ... Hope, I have not. pic.twitter.com/pctjJCNZ9k

— Katie Foran-McHale (@kforanmchale) December 16, 2015

Some fans gave up hope and moved on, but those who made it into the bar were treated to a scene that looked more exciting than going to Tosche Station to pick up some power converters. 

 

A photo posted by claudia aguilar (@claudiaaguilar) on Dec 16, 2015 at 11:24pm PST

 

Wednesday December 16, 2015 #Chicago #Cocktails #WhistlerCantina #figrindanandthemodalnodes

A photo posted by Cocktails (@whistlermenu) on Dec 16, 2015 at 2:29pm PST

In any case, the real Star Wars mania will begin in earnest tonight with the release of The Force Awakens. Don't expect Chicago's theaters to look like the Whistler's cantina party, though. Most cinemas won't be allowing fans to wear their Star Wars costumes.