TEMAGAMI – In what is sure to be fun for the whole family, a pair of drive-in movie nights are happening in Temagami over the next few weeks to help celebrate Halloween.
Living Temagami – Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Temagami parks and recreation committee and the Temagami Community Market, will be holding the events on Friday, October 23, and Friday, October 30, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Community Centre, located at 100 Spruce Drive.
The move nights are free to attend, but you must pre-register by emailing [email protected].
“It is our intention to have those coming to the event to pre-register and tell us how many children will be in each vehicle,” said Living Temagami board of directors chair Dave MacDonald in an email interview.”
“In this way, we can control numbers and be sure all the children get treat bags. Our concern is to be sure that all COVID protocols are observed and vehicles appropriately distanced.” MacDonald said the first event will be projected onto the side of the community centre, with cars double-spaced.
“We are attempting to put cars closest to the viewing area, then vans and trucks at the rear,” he explained.
The viewing tonight (October 23) will be limited to approximately 20 vehicles, MacDonald said, “as our test and (we) will expand on the 30th, if appropriate.”
The Addams Family will be shown first while Frankenweenieis the movie slated for October 30.
MacDonald said that the municipality has established a parks and recreation committee that is encouraging members of community groups to coordinate and collaborate on community activities.
“Living Temagami has representation on that committee,” he said.
“Living Temagami's mission is to work in partnership with organizations in our Northeastern region on the arts and community-building events,” MacDonald explained.
“Kelly Hearn and the parks and rec staff have arranged for approval to use them outside of the community centre building as our screen. They have really stepped up on short notice to provide protocols and washroom facilities with volunteers for the facility, so we remain in compliance (with) COVID. They arranged for permission to use the town's Public Performance license to enable us to provide the experience. He also had to get transports that pay to park in the area to park in another location for the shows. They are also supplying the traffic cones needed, as well as fluorescent vests for parking volunteers.”
The Temagami Community Market, which Living Temagami took over the management of this summer, will be providing children who attend the movie nights with free treat bags to enjoy the shows.
MacDonald explained that Living Temagami is using the proceeds from the summer markets to pay for treats “for the kids to enjoy during the movies.
“We had a private donation for a low-range FM booster so we can transmit into the vehicles. With everyone committing to the event, we are able to offer the event at no charge to our area youth.”
MacDonald said as part of their mandate at Living Temagami, they wanted to “bring our widespread and very diverse community together to share our many passions and life experiences together in community events.
“Halloween is a time for the kids and families to join in family fun, safely, and we think the movie nights provide a great opportunity for this to take place. This should be a fun venue for families to get in the Halloween spirit.”
Jamie Mountain is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with the Temiskaming Speaker. LJI is funded by the Government of Canada.
