by Carolyn Noel, intern, UMass ’19
Moviegoers watch a presentation at the Amelia Park Children’s Museum in 2017. (Photo courtesy of APCM)
WESTFIELD- Originally scheduled for tonight, Friday July 27, the Amelia Park Children’s Museum will be having their first “Drive-In Theater” outdoor movie night of the season this coming Sunday, July 29. The movie is set to start shortly after sunset, which will be at 8:16 p.m, outside behind the museum. The change in schedule is due to a better weather forecast for Sunday than Friday.
These movie events began last summer when the Rotary Club of Westfield donated the 20 foot high and 25 foot long outdoor movie screen, complete with projector and sound system.
“Without the Rotary Club, we wouldn’t be able to have this for the community. The Children’s Museum is so grateful for the Rotary Club’s contribution,” Chuck Kelly, President of the Children’s Museum board said.
The event is free and open to children and adults of all ages. There are a total of three movies shown each summer, but this number could go up depending upon demand. Each movie shown is family friendly and this week’s film is Mulan. Future movies will be announced on the Amelia Park Children’s Museum Facebook page.
Families attending are encouraged to create and bring their own decorated cardboard box car to watch the show from. Kids can also borrow one already made by the children’s museum.
“Last summer we had firetrucks, tractors… Grandparents can go a little overboard,” Kelly joked. “One girl even set up pillows and blankets inside her boxcar and came for every movie we had.”
The Children’s Museum encourages everyone coming to also bring any lounge chairs, blankets, or items needed to make their movie experience the best it can be under the stars! Snacks, including popcorn and water, will be available and donations to the museum are greatly appreciated.
“Donations are a very important part of the museum as it is a non-profit. “We survive solely on donations and fundraisers. They are not mandatory, but they are certainly needed,” said Kelly.
With this event being held outside, it is dependent on weather. If there are any changes or cancellations, they will be posted on the Children’s Museum Facebook page in ample time.
The Children’s Museum is hoping for a great turnout, with last year bringing in about 40 to 50 families each time.
In the future the Children’s Museum also hopes to use the movie screen to help the Westfield 350 in their upcoming fundraisers and events.
“Every resource that the museum has we want to use for the community,” Kelly stresses.
The Drive-In Movie night is a fun and family-friendly event perfect for the residents of the greater Westfield area.
“We understand that kids tend to age out from the museum itself. The whole idea of the museum is for the kids to be entertained, educated, and to enjoy themselves. When we received the donation we said “Alright, what’s the best way for the community to enjoy it and for the museum to get a return on that,”” said Kelly.
The movie night is a great event for kids and adults from 0 to 100 to be able to enjoy.
