A Galaxy Far, Far Away is Coming to Long Island With Premier of Troopercon 2025 This December

By Salomé Davoudiasl

Troopercon is set to bring a galaxy far, far, away closer to home this winter, promising Star Wars fans not just a celebration of the franchise, but a deeper look into the people who use the saga’s iconic villains to do good in the community. 

The event is free and open to all, taking place Saturday, December 6th at 10am in Levittown Hall at 201 Levittown Pkwy in Hicksville.

“The idea of TrooperCon is to really show off the 501st Legion and what we do, how we do it, and why we do it,” says Justin Weiss, Commanding Officer of the 501st Legion’s Empire City Garrison.

The 501st Legion is a worldwide Star Wars costuming organization with more than 20,000 members across 67 countries. Their motto, “Bad guys doing good” captures their mission. 

Members recreate screen-accurate villain costumes, from Stormtroopers to Darth Vader, and use them to raise money for charities, visit children’s hospitals, and bring the fantasy of Star Wars to fans of all ages. 

“This is an incredible organization that uses its love of Star Wars for charity and community,” Weiss said . “One thing we plan on doing at Troopercon is showing off all of the charities we support. From the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to autism awareness, ALS research, veterans’ charities, and so many more.” 

Guests will be able to meet members of the largest Star Wars costuming group in the world, see how screen-accurate costumes are built and worn, and learn about the Legion’s work with charities and local communities. Life sets like Tatooine, a trash compactor, and a speeder bike are expected to be displayed. Attendees can test their aim at “Blast a Trooper” or connect with sister groups like the Rebel Legion and Saber Guild, who bring Jedi training and lightsaber choreography to life. 

The 501st Legion is committed to costumes that look like they stepped straight off a Lucasfilm set. Members often spend months, sometimes years, building armor and props from scratch, and each costume must go through a rigorous approval process before it can be worn publicly. 

“Our costumes are so accurate that Lucasfilm actually hires us for promotional events,” Weiss said.

Veteran member and Charity Officer Christopher Feehan knows the effort firsthand. Since joining in 2008, he has completed nearly 800 “troops,” or events, in costume. His stormtrooper armor, rebuilt five times due to wear and time, remains his most iconic.

“It’s almost impossible to get a turnkey stormtrooper,” Feehan said. “Even people who buy pre-made ones end up failing approval because something small is off. There’s a huge time element, but that’s why we’re proud to wear the costumes. We’re representing not only Star Wars, but the Legion itself.” 

“I’ve walked through children’s hospitals and put smiles on kids’ faces that haven’t smiled in months,” Weiss said. “I’ve walked at street fairs and seen grown adults drop their jaws as we come by. I’ve danced on stage with Weird Al Yankovic and walked the field at Yankee Stadium to thousands of screaming fans. That’s what I want to give people through TrooperCon — that feeling of magic.”

Feehan agrees. “Sometimes you’ll only see a dozen kids in a hospital, but you’re blowing those kids’ minds and giving them a little ray of hope in a very dark situation,” he said. “It never gets old.” 

For newcomers curious about joining, the event will provide resources and guidance on building costumes and becoming part of a legion that ties in a love for the craft, the fantasy, and the good to be brought with such passion.

Lisa, known as LiliPopeCosplay on Instagram, a member of the Saber Guild, Rebel Legion, and the 501st, echoed the sentiment. “All the Star Wars groups I’m part of bring together some of the kindest, most generous, and coolest people. We all use our love for Star Wars and cosplay to help the community and raise money for charity. It’s a really special thing to be part of,” she said.

For her, the joy of cosplay has become a family tradition. She and her husband often bring their three-year-old son to events. “He already has Grogu, Luke Skywalker, and Jedi costumes, and he loves seeing the stormtroopers,” she said. “It’s fun as parents seeing it through his eyes and how excited he gets.”

For many invested, TrooperCon will not just be about celebrating Star Wars but also about ensuring its spirit lives on for generations.

For Dennis Carter Jr., multimedia performer and character artist, the idea of Troopercon is a testament to how far fan culture has come. “Back in the ’80s, not that many people were really dressing up in costumes in any kind of capacity. If you did, you were brutally made fun of.” Now, the community in the fan spaces is much more accessible, and Carter adds that “Events like this bring people together in a world where being different is sometimes welcomed and sometimes frowned upon.”

“Star Wars was the first phenomenon,” Weiss reflected. “It changed the world. Star Wars is American mythology. What I hope to gain from TrooperCon is inspiring people — no matter what generation they grew up with — to express their love for Star Wars and maybe even join us.”

For Jacobella Luongo, award winning actor, writer, and filmmaker, Troopercon is going to be somewhere where her passions for acting, costuming, and charity intersect. “I have been a huge Star Wars fan ever since I was a child,” she said. After the pandemic, she discovered the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, which gave her “a likeminded community after so much isolation.” Costuming, which she first started in acting school, became both a creative outlet and another form of storytelling. 

 “Almost every time I am Leia, adults and children alike come up to me and tell me what Leia means to them, what Carrie Fisher meant to them. They ask if they can hug me.” For Luongo, moments like that affirm why costuming is a powerful tool for charity. “Making a child smile when they meet a character they love is truly inspiring and priceless. It’s a beautiful way to give back to your community,” she said.

The heart of the event, will always be the charity work.  “For TrooperCon, it will probably be the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but we still have to decide exactly what charity we will use,” said Feehan, noting that the group often rotates beneficiaries. “If we can make it more personal, something that one of our members is close to, we try to do that.” At New York Comic Con, the Legion expects to raise between $8,000 and $10,000 for Make-A-Wish, part of the $17,000 they have already raised this year for various organizations. 

Because the 501st operates as a 501(c)(7) community organization, it does not hold funds directly. “We try to determine beforehand what charity it’s going to be, and we’ll be raising in their name,” Feehan explained. “That money goes directly to that charity.”

For fans stepping into Hicksville this December, the force won’t just be with them, it will be for them.  Just like Weiss said, ​​“It’s going to be a Star Wars extravaganza.” 

Salomé Davoudiasl is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.