Outdoor movies are coming to Grand Forks in August and you don’t have to worry about stuffing your friends in the trunk because it’s all free.
That’s right, all the fun of a drive-in movie without the risk of asphyxiation.
Starting on Friday, Aug.1, Movies in the Park will begin playing movies every Friday evening at City Park.
First up is the classic Michael J. Fox time travel movie Back to the Future. Come watch Fox as Marty McFly outwit the hapless Biff Tannen.
Organizer Cassie Foxley came up with the idea for Movies in the Park after seeing similar ideas in cities such as Spokane, Vancouver and Penticton.
“We’ve been trying to find things we can do for families,” she said. “Everyone has a budget so we wanted to do something for free, which is tricky.”
The movies will go every week for 10 weeks, weather permitting, said Foxley. Anyone interested in more details can check out the Movies in the Park Facebook page.
Foxley said Movies in the Park is relying on help from the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce as well as sponsorship from local businesses to operate.
“This free family event is a great thing for the community and the businesses here,” said James Wilson, executive director for the chamber. “
Foxley said the movies will start at dusk, which will be around 7:30 p.m. About a half-hour before, she will either play a short film or music as people find their seats.
The movies will be shown on an inflatable screen using a special night-time projector.
“People should bring down a lawn chair and a blanket or whatever they want to sit on,” said Foxley. “The GEM (Theatre) will come down and sell popcorn and have some snacks. Of course, people can bring their own food. There will be a donation box.”
Foxley hopes the community will come out and support the event and that it will become a yearly event.
“I hope the community will be proud that Grand Forks has something to do, something new and different,” she said.
Other movies coming up include many classic both new and old such as Despicable Me 2, Hook, Monsters University, E.T., Frozen, Jurassic Park and more.