Movies in the Park Starts Friday

The department will officially kick off its annual Movies in the Park program Friday, June 21 in Byrd Park beside Fountain Lake with a showing of Madagascar 3.

     The annual series of free movies will be held every Friday night in a different park through August 16. The movies will begin at 8:30 p.m., or as soon as it’s dark, and families are invited to bring their own blankets or chairs and refreshments and enjoy the free PG-rated movies in the park. Vendors will also have refreshments for sale, and prior to each movie RVA Hoop House will provide hula hoop activities for all to enjoy. 

     This year’s series, co-sponsored by Pepsi, the CW Richmond, Bounce Richmond, and 106.5 the Beat, is scheduled as follows:

Date                            Location                                 Movie

June 21                        Byrd Park                                *MADAGASCAR 3

June 28                        Blackwell                                *RISE OF THE GUARDIANS

July  5                          Broad Rock Complex            *PARANORMAN

July 12                         Jefferson Park                         *HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

July 19                         Hotchkiss                               THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN

July 26                         Humphrey Calder                   *BRAVE

August 2                     Abner Clay                              CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

August 9                     Battery Park                            JACK THE GIANT SLAYER

August 16                   Forest Hill                               OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

                                                                                    * =  animated

For more information, call (804) 646-5733. Park visitors are reminded that no glass containers and no dogs are allowed in parks.

Department Kicks Off Free Outdoor Movie Series

The department will kick off its third year of free movies in the park on Friday, July 15, at 8 p.m. with the showing of "Megamind” in Byrd Park beside Fountain Lake. The animated film features Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Tina Fey in a sci-fi comedy that finally gives the underdog a chance to save the world.
“Megamind” will be followed by six more free family movie nights in Richmond’s parks. The schedule is as follows:

· Friday, July 22
“Despicable Me”
Battery Park
2803 Dupont Circle

· Friday, July 29
“Alpha and Omega”
Hotchkiss Community Center
701 E. Brookland Park Blvd.

· Friday, August 5
“Shrek Forever After”
Mary Munford Playground
211 Westmoreland St.

· Thursday, August 11
“Justin Bieber: Never Say Never”
Bryan Park
4308 Hermitage Road

· Friday, August 12
“Sister Act II”
Byrd Park’s Dogwood Dell
1100 Blanton Ave.

· Friday, August 19
“Tangled”
Forest Hill Park
4021 Forest Hill Ave.

All movies will begin at 8 p.m. and are rated PG. The department's movie night series is co-sponsored by 106.5 the Beat.

Special movie night set for Oct. 29

Families are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes to the final film in the department’s fall series of free outdoor movies, which will be shown at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park on Friday, October 29.
The department will show Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” from 7 to 9 p.m.
“Our movies in the parks have been a huge success," said J.R. Pope, director of the department. "Families from all over the city have really enjoyed them. They’re a great way for families and neighbors to get outdoors and have some fun, and it's all free.”
The department chose to offer its free movie series to provide families with an affordable recreation option in the current economic environment. All the movies have been free to attend, and free popcorn is handed out for as long as it lasts.
Audiences should bring chairs or blankets and can also bring their own sodas and snacks. Food and drinks can also be purchased from the concession stand at Dogwood Dell.
As a reminder, no glass containers or pets are allowed at Dogwood Dell.

Department to show Michael Jackson movie, hold dance contests

Aug. 5, 2010 - The Department will show Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Friday, Aug. 6, at its Broad Rock Sports Complex as part of its free Friday Pictures in the Park series of outdoor family entertainment. Broad Rock Sports Complex is located at 4801 Old Warwick Rd.

The movie, which will begin at 8:30 p.m., will be preceded by a Michael Jackson dance contests for children and teens at 7 p.m. and for adults at 8 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each contest.

Both the contests and movie are free, and free popcorn will be provided for the movie as well.

The public is encouraged to dress the part and participate in the dance contests, and to bring blankets, chairs and water or soft drinks to enjoy the movie.


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City to Kick Off Free Outdoor Movie Series June 18

June 10, 2010 - The department kicks off its second year of “Friday Pictures in the Park” on June 18 at 8:30 p.m. in Byrd Park with the showing of "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." “Friday Pictures in the Park” is the showing of free movies in city parks and community centers with free popcorn and cotton candy.

New to this year’s series are theme nights, when audiences are encouraged to dress like the movie's characters for the showing of "Star Trek," "This Is It" and "The Princess and the Frog.” In addition, a dance competition will be held in conjunction with the showing of "This Is It.”

Theme night movies will begin at 7:30 p.m., while the remainder of the movies will begin at 8:30 p.m. All movies are free.

The department's movie nights are co-sponsored by Pepsi and 106.5 the Beat, and the additional opening night sponsor is Stratford Hills Chick-fil-A.

Billed as the most delicious movie since macaroni met cheese, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is a Sony animated movie that tells the story of Flint Lockwood, whose invention, the Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator, causes new foods to rain down on the town of Swallow Falls every day.

The complete schedule is as follows:
(* indicates a theme night)

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Friday, June 18, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Byrd Park, 600 South Boulevard

Imagine That
June 25, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Battery Park, 2803 Dupont Circle

*Star Trek
Friday, July 9, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Abner Clay Park, Brook Road and West Clay Streets
Costume contest

Planet 51
Friday, July 16, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Mary Munford Playground, 211 Westmoreland Avenue

The Blind Side
Friday, July 23, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Blackwell Community Center, 300 East 15th Street

Monsters vs. Aliens
Friday, July 30, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Jefferson Hill Park, 21st and East Marshall Streets

*This is It
Friday, August 6, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Broad Rock Sports Complex, 4801 Old Warwick Road
Dance Contest

Fame
Friday, August 13, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Chimborazo Park, 2900 East Grace Street

G-Force
Friday, August 20, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Hotchkiss Community Center, 701 East Brookland Park Boulevard

*The Princess and the Frog
Friday, August 27, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Forest Hill Park, 4100 Forest Hill Avenue
Costume contest

For more information, call 646-5733.