The South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade attracts marchers of all kinds, but the ones having the most fun may be Star Wars fans from the New England Garrison of the 501st Legion, representing evil imperial forces, and the Alderaan Base of the Rebel Legion, representing noble Jedi knights and other good guys.

Each year these science fiction fans participate in events across New England and around the country and donate thousands of dollars to charities.

For a complete look at all 132 participants of this year’s parade, check out our interactive guide either on our mobile site or on our iPhone app.

The troupe at the 2012 St. Patrick’s Day Parade included Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Princess Leia, multiple Jedi, and lots of stormtroopers and X-wing pilots.

At the 2012 parade, a clone trooper marched alongside a truck for Alderaan Base, the chapter of Rebel Legion costume enthusiasts that covers all of New England except Connecticut.

A group of Jedi knights prepared for battle along the parade route in 2012. Star Wars costumers make their own costumes, or buy them from other fans, and even make their own lightsabers.

All costumes and accessories must be authentic replicas of those seen in the films, which excludes most commercially available options.

Randy Smith, in costume as the evil Sith lord Darth Maul, made his way down the parade route in 2012, followed by a pair of Jawas and by two TIE fighter pilots.

A biker scout and imperial gunner paused during the 2012 parade, with two stormtroopers in the background. The costumes are different, but they all serve the evil Emperor Palpatine.

Clone troopers marched in 2012.

Members say not everyone has the right look to play a “face character” like Luke Skywalker or Queen Amidala, but almost anyone can put on armor and a helmet to become a clone trooper, stormtrooper, or TIE fighter pilot.

An imperial gunner and a TIE fighter pilot paused to stare intimidatingly into the crowd at the 2012 parade.

Because TIE fighter pilots dress in all black and wear helmets that conceal their faces, they are sometimes mistaken for Darth Vader.

Clone troopers and Jedi faced off in 2012.

From left: Phil Maiewski, Evan Ehrenberg, Andrew Liptak, Garrett McCarthy, Russell Pinard, Dan Paquin, Kevin Sullivan, Terry Becker, Beth Paquin, and Christopher Plant.

Members of the 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion don’t just get dressed up for St. Patrick’s Day.

Randy Smith wore the elaborate make-up and horns of Darth Maul at New England Comic Con 2010

Three biker scouts appeared at Liquid Planet Water Park in Candia, N.H., in August 2010.

Mike Brunco, commanding officer of the New England Garrison of the 501st Legion, appeared in costume at a Lowell Spinners minor-league baseball game in 2009.

At the 2009 Woburn Halloween Parade, Vivienne Pustell dressed up as Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice during the Clone Wars.

Randy Smith, seen previously as the villainous Darth Maul, dressed as a noble Jedi for the 2009 Woburn Halloween Parade.

Here he’s flanked by clone troopers Sean Carmichael and Brian Anderson.

Mark Poutenis, better known as Chewbacca the Wookiee, signed autographs at a Lowell Spinners minor-league baseball game in 2009.

Stormtroopers, a snow trooper, an imperial guard, biker scouts, imperial crewmen, bounty hunters, and other bad guys and gals from the 501st Legion gathered for a group photo at the 2009 Woburn Halloween Parade.

Ann Marie Shafer appeared as Deliah Blue at the New England Comic Con in 2010.

Greg Chase dressed as Jabba the Hutt’s major domo, Bib Fortuna, at the 2010 Woburn Halloween Parade.

Darth Vader greeted young fans, including a pint-sized version of himself, at the Woburn Halloween Parade in 2010.

Members of the 501st Legion inducted “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star James Marsters as an honorary member at the New England Comic Con 2010.

From left: Ann Marie Shafer, Andrew Liptak, Marsters, Erich Shafer.

Three Jawas participated in the 2010 Woburn Halloween Parade. Costumers with young children often dress them as the diminutive Jawas, so they can join in the fun.

Mark Poutenis, Michael McLeod, and Jodi Anderson marched in the 2010 Woburn Halloween Parade as Chewbacca, Han Solo, and Princess Leia.

A group of costumed characters gathered with a life-sized Jabba the Hutt built by members of the New England Garrison of the 501st Legion at the 2010 Woburn Halloween Parade.

Darth Vader was flanked by stormtroopers at the Woburn Halloween Parade in 2010.

Members of the New England Garrison and Alderaan Base visited the headquarters of the Hasbro toy company in Pawtucket, R.I.

Stormtrooper Bob Gouveia took a ride on a full-scale dewback created by local costumers at the Woburn Halloween Parade.

At Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Fla., costumer Bob Gouveia was photographed as Boba Fett alongside the life-sized Jabba the Hutt built by members of the New England Garrison.

Davira Kuy appeared as Emperor Palpatine at the Granite State Comic Con in 2011.

Bob Gouveia appeared as Boba Fett at the Granite State Comic Con in 2011.

New England Garrison members including Bob Gouveia, Sean Carmichael, Joe White Jr., and Lori Sartre met Star Wars creator George Lucas at the Rose Bowl Parade in California.