Whether you want to see last summer’s record-breaking box office hit, or four LEGO movies, there are 13 free or $1 movie nights this summer.
Free summer movie nights begin July 5. Outdoor movies will be presented at Courthouse Park and the Homer Village Green, and in August, Crown City Cinemas will host $1 movies weekly.
Andrew Pierce was in the outdoor movie industry before becoming Homer recreation director. He always saw outdoor movies as something that brings the community together, he said.
“Watching a movie on a cool summer night is something families really enjoy, especially on a jumbo inflatable screen while having a delicious bag of popcorn,” Pierce said. “For kids, it is something new and exciting. For the adults, I think it reminds them of their childhood when drive-in movies were popular.”
The movies will begin at dusk, and at the Homer Village Green, there will be free popcorn. Nate Johnson, recreation supervisor for the city of Cortland Youth Bureau, is most excited for the “Barbie” movie, he said.
“We get between 20 and 40 families that show up every night,” Johnson said. “They love it. It’s a fun, free, family event, and sometimes we have snacks for them.”
“I am excited to see the new ‘Wonka’ movie,” Pierce said. “The original came out in 1971, and it is something we would watch every year when it came on TV. I am hoping the new one is even better.”
If you or your child are really into LEGOs, in August, one of the four LEGO movies will be screened each day Crown City Cinemas is open for $1.
The program “Build a Great Summer” was chosen because LEGOS are popular with all ages, said Movie Theater Manager Lydia Mekeel.
“We get a lot of feedback from customers sharing their childhood stories of coming to this theater with their family and friends, or even working at the theater as teens,” she said.
