Westlock Parent Link’s fourth annual Movie in the Park event last Saturday at Keller Field drew a crowd of close to 1,000 — a number that defied organizers’ expectations.
Anita Fagnan, the Parent Link’s manager, said she was amazed by the turnout to the screening of Disney’s Cars 2, and said it was a good indication of the need for this kind of event in our community.
“For the most part, it’s 20 per cent movie and 80 per cent atmosphere,” she said. “I don’t know that it’s so much what movie we’re showing, just the atmosphere of being outside with your friends and family.”
Numbers in previous years have been anywhere from 300 to 700 people, but the warm weather in Westlock on Saturday night helped propel attendance to an all-time high.
“Weather is a huge factor,” she said. “Also just word getting around that this is an affordable night out for families, and it’s something unique for the kids, too, to be able to watch a movie outdoors.”
For parent Ed Fauque, who brought his kids Mackenzie and Nicholas to watch the show, watching the movie kindled fond memories of his own youth.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “I’m from the era of drive-in theatres and I miss them.”
For two-year-old Nicholas, the appeal was as much in the movie that was showing than the outdoor venue; he’s a big fan of the Cars movies.
Cindy Spady said she brought her son Diesel to see the show for somewhat different reasons.
“The is the first year we came to watch, and we just came because it’s something fun for our little guy to do,” she said.
In fact, the choice of movie did not factor into it.
“We had to go watch Cars 1 so we wouldn’t be lost,” she said.
For his part, two-year-old Diesel said he was excited to see the movie, but he seemed equally excited to be outside running around.
Fagnan said despite the big crowd, there were no altercations or any incidents that might be associated with a crowd that big.
“It really brings a community together, and it required very little monitoring,” she said. “We encourage family events so parents can come out and spend some time with their kids, and I think a lot of the responsibility comes with the parents.”
