Movies at the park
More than 2,000 people enjoy an evening of laughs, eating popcorn and getting cozy under blankets as part of Victoria Park Sunset Series
As the sun started to set on Victoria Park in Charlottetown last night, the curtain rose on a special night of entertainment.
And the Panton family of Brackley Beach was glad to be there to see it unfold.
Sharing a cuddly red and blue plaid blanket, with their white dog, Oscar, they stretched out on the grass in front of the cultural pavilion and joined more than 2,000 people to watch two popular family movies as part of the Victoria Park Sunset Series.
Along with families, couples and individuals, they lugged some creature comforts from home to enjoy the nighttime event put on by the City of Charlottetown.
Debbie Panton, who was there with her husband, Keith, and sons Austen, 8, and Tyler, 14, was happy to see the city put on a family-friendly event on a Friday evening. She also thought it was a nice way for people to get out and enjoy some time at the park.
“I love it. I think it’s a great idea. When I saw it advertised, I was just hoping that the weather would turn out good for tonight and it turned out great.”
The two scheduled movies were “Trolls” and “Beauty and the Beast” and the four Panton family members were looking forward to watching “Trolls”, since they had never seen it before.
“I really wanted to see (“Trolls”),” said Austen. “I liked the trailer.”
Melissa MacDonald and Fred MacPhail along with Maisie MacDonald, 7, Felicity MacDonald, 4, and Charlie MacPhail, 7, of Charlottetown also turned out for the movie night, surrounded in blankets while eating gummy bears and Cheezies.
“It’s great for the kids,” said Melissa. “It’s really nice that they can do this, and everybody can have a nice Friday night.”
Maisie said she was pretty excited that the movie was outside.
“I’ve never sat outside and watched one, I’ve watched one in a car. I like that it is a funny movie,” added Maisie on the movie “Trolls”.
Laurel Lea, tourism officer for the City of Charlottetown, said the Victoria Park Sunset Series is a new initiative this year and it is a combination of music, movies and art.
“It’s just really to celebrate summer,” said Lea. “We live in a beautiful place, so we like to give people a reason to get out, get away from the TV, from the IPad and unplug a little and just be together.”
The series began Tuesday and included two evenings of music in the park.
The event continues today with Art in the Open, 4 p.m. to midnight, with about 35 installations around Victoria Park and the city’s downtown.
The Panton family goes to Art in the Open every year and is looking forward to participating in today’s events, including the popular March of the Crows.
“It’s just so interesting,” said Debbie. “They create so many unusual creative really fun.”
Melissa said they, too, hope to participate in Art in the Open.
“That is what brings the community together is arts and culture. It’s nice that they can do that for all age groups in the city.”
The Victoria Park Sunset Series wraps up Sunday with a songwriters’ circle, hosted by Tara MacLean at 7 p.m. displays, it’s