Coastal Community’s Sunset Cinema Tour is back this summer across Vancouver Island from July 17-22.
The free, family-friendly event will be held outdoors, with Moana 2 playing at Bob Dailey Stadium in Port Alberni on Sunday, July 20.
“This year, it is a lot of alternating between Moana 2 and The Wild Robot. If you live in Parksville or Nanaimo, you’re close enough if you want to catch either one,” said Jake Dunbar, managing director of Fresh Air Cinema.
Wild Robot will be playing at Parksville’s Kite Field Park and Courtenay’s Lewis Park on July 19 and 21 and Ice Age will be shown at Cowichan Sportsplex in Duncan on July 17.
“Bob Dailey Stadium is one of the nice venues because it is on a beautiful, clean field and people can bring their blankets and chairs,” Dunbar said.
Dunbar has noticed a positive reaction from communities each summer and says outdoor movies have become a summer staple for families.
“If you have a family of five going to a regular movie theatre, that could be $20 a head and it adds up. So, it is fun to have something free while getting the kids outside.”
Throughout the years, movies shown on the Island have also become more family focused to appeal to the audiences they see coming to these events.
“When we first did the series, we were focusing on more classic nostalgic films like Back to the Future. But, in the last four years we have pivoted to more family-oriented films because there is a huge demographic shift with young families, little kids and pre-teens moving to the Island from the mainland,” he said.
Evo Summer Cinema took off a little over a decade ago when films were shown at Cepereley Meadow in Stanley Park.
This event, which will be returning every Tuesday in July and August in Vancouver, offers families and friends a chance to watch a movie while sitting under the stars.
The movies shown this year will be The Princess Bride on July 8, The Land Before Time on July 15, Legally Blonde on July 22, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on July 29, Top Gun on Aug. 12, The Hunger Games on Aug. 19 and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on Aug. 26.
On Aug. 5, audiences can vote between Grease, Hairspray or Mamma Mia, for a musical-themed night.
All movies begin at sunset, but Dunbar encourages people to come early to find a spot.
“With outdoor movies, no matter where we go, it is a big thing for the community because there are only so many free events for the public to attend,” he said.
