Orange County residents grabbed their folding chairs and gathered around a jumbotron at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton last week to kick off OC Parks annual Friday night Sunset Cinema Series.
The ongoing summer series offers residents and families a chance to enjoy movies under the stars while enjoying food, company, nature and conversation.
Beginning Fridays, and running through September 8, at 6 p.m., 14 movie screenings will be presented at several regional Orange County Parks: Craig Regional Park, Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Yorba Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park, Mason Regional Park, Laguna Niguel Regional Park and Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach.
For many families, watching movies in the park is a creative way to experience the outdoors.
“We came here last year for the first time, it’s just a nice way to get out, we love watching movies and we now have a dog so it’s nice to be able to bring our dog and let our kids kinda run around the park and enjoy the outdoors,” said Anaheim resident Alyssa Dikitanan Huerta says.
For some others, it was an opportunity to get in touch with their local community.
“This is actually our first event, we are actually new in the area so we saw it and thought we would check it out and bring the kids … we saw the signs posted around and then I looked into it and put it on my calendar,” said Tara White, a movie goer from Brea.
Editor’s note: This is an occasional series where Voice of OC works with local community photographers to offer residents a first-hand look at the local sites and scenes of Orange County.
Before the movie starts, there are many activities for movie goers to enjoy. Kids can compete to win prizes in games, food trucks and drinks are available to eat before or during the movie.
“I think events like this when you get to see everyone enjoying the beautiful facilities we have, seeing our staff interacting with the public is really great, play lawn games, bring your friends, I think it’s a really great time, that’s probably my favorite thing working for OC parks,” said Danielle Kennedy, Interim Public Information Officer for OC Parks.
To view the OC Parks Sunset Cinema series schedule and locations click here.
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