MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club is inviting residents to pull up a lawn chair, grab a blanket, and enjoy a movie under the open sky — all while supporting the food bank.
After weather forced a cancellation last summer, the club is bringing Back to the Future back to the big screen for this year’s kickoff of “Movies Under the Stars.” The outdoor screening will take place Saturday, June 21 at approximately 9:15 p.m. — weather permitting — at the Kinsmen Moose Jaw Minor Football Field located in Hamilton Flats south of the Yara Centre.
Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank.
“We just wanted a way to give back to the community for supporting us, and we’re trying to do that for the kids and to bring back the nostalgia of outdoor movies,” said Dave Stevenson, recording secretary for the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club.
“We’re trying to do something good for the community, and the food bank is really deserving … especially in these economic times.”
The movie will begin around sundown and is tentatively scheduled for 9:15 p.m. — although the exact time may vary slightly based on daylight and weather conditions.
“It will start about quarter after nine-ish, somewhere in there. It depends on the daylight, and it obviously depends on the weather, because that 33-foot (roughly 10 metre) screen is like a sail in the wind,” Stevenson said. “We had to cancel the show last year because the wind was just so bad.”
This year’s first screening will be followed by three more movie nights: July 19, Aug. 9, and Sept. 13, with specific movie titles yet to be announced.
The idea for Movies Under the Stars came from Stevenson himself, who pitched it to the club after seeing similar events held in other communities. As a past Kinsmen Club president and long-time member, he saw it as a way to show appreciation for the community’s ongoing support.
“We were on board to just give back to the community with something free, (as a thank you for) all their support,” he said. “Sometimes we get 50 people, and sometimes we get 100 or more (attending) — it all depends on the evening.”
There is no registration required and the event is open to all ages. However, organizers ask that pets, alcohol, and drugs be left at home, in keeping with city bylaws and the family-friendly nature of the event.
Although not yet confirmed, Stevenson is reaching out to the Moose Jaw Co-op to once again provide popcorn to continue its two-year tradition.
“I think Moose Jaw is a great place, and most of our work is done for the community and (especially for) the kids,” he added. “We’d like to see a good turnout, and we would like to see some non-perishable items so we can support the food bank.”
To learn more about the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club visit “Moose Jaw Kinsmen” on Facebook or email [email protected].
