‘Star Wars’ Speed Dating Hits Florida

Amid the droid races, costume contests, and panel discussions, some devoted Star Wars fans tried their luck at finding romance with sci-fi-themed speed dating, reports The Christian Science Monitor.

Two speed dating events were planned for the four-day-long Star Wars Celebration V convention in Orlando, Florida, but the sessions were so popular that the organizers added an impromptu third gathering to the schedule.

"Over the course of the three events, due to size and time, we turned away about 600 participants," the event's host Ryan Glitch said. "Yesterday, this room was packed. We had to keep shoveling people along."

In total, over 260 Star Wars fans took part in the speed dating sessions, which were open to heterosexual and homosexual participants.

The males and females remain anonymous throughout the string of dates – identified solely by name tags with assigned numbers. The participants record the number of anyone who captures their interest.

After time runs out on all the dates, the males and females write their preferred method of contact on envelopes that correspond to the number assigned to any participant they wish to see or hear from again. This way, contact information is only divulged to those who have sparked a person's interest.

Glitch, who is single, first submitted the idea of speed-dating online, hoping to see it run so that he could meet someone. After several e-mails were exchanged back and forth with the Star Wars Celebration V organizers, Glitch found himself at the helm of the dating extravaganza.

"It was an accident," Glitch said. "Well, it was pure luck – a will of the Force, you could say."

The feedback from the three events has been very positive, Glitch said, and he is aware of nine possible success stories that have come out of the experience.