Hundreds turn up for 'Star Wars' snowball fight in D.C.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Hundreds turned Washington's Dupont Circle into a makeshift ice planet Hoth for a massive Star Wars-themed snowball fight following the weekend's blizzard.

The Washington D.C. Snowball Fight Association said more than 500 people participated in "Snow Wars: The Snowball Strikes Back," the Star Wars-themed snowball war held Sunday morning in Dupont Circle, the association's preferred location for its annual snowball fights.

The participants, whose numbers were lower than expected due to public transportation being shut down for the snow storm, included several in Star Wars costumes including Jedi, Storm Troopers, Rebel fighters, Darth Vader and Chewbacca.

There was also, for some reason, a penguin.

"We're big Star Wars fans, and if you are too, bring your outfits and get into character as you engage with Storm Troopers, Jedi, Vader and maybe even some Ewoks!" the event's Facebook page said.

A man seen lobbing snowballs from the back of a pickup truck was accompanied by an inflatable Yoda dressed in a Santa Claus costume.

The blizzard, nicknamed "Snowzilla" by some East Coasters, helped prep for the event by dropping more than 20 inches of snow on the District.