A few scattered showers didn’t deter fans of Disney’s Frozen Monday night. Valparaiso Festivals and Events showed the popular animated hit in Central Park Plaza, much to the joy of Valparaiso’s younger citizens.
The evening started just before dusk with a surprise visit from Queen Elsa, delighting young princesses [in full costume, of course] throughout the park. As the sky grew dark, the movie began to roll, and a night of family-friendly fun commenced.
Kids sang along to the popular songs “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?” and “Let It Go” while keeping dry under umbrellas and heaps of blankets. Many families took advantage of being in the heart of downtown to pick up a picnic dinner from one of Valpo’s many restaurants.
“It’s a great chance for parents to come with kids of any age and sit in the park and watch a movie,” said Cathy Brown, owner of Valpo Velvet Ice Cream.
Kids and adults of all ages came out for an evening of entertainment and family bonding. Bison Financial provided free hot dogs and chips, and Valpo Velvet offered hand-scooped ice cream cones.
“I think Valpo works together really well as a community, and as a business owner, events like these help us build relationships with customers and other business owners,” said Brown. “I love this community, for real. I love Valpo.”
Valparaiso Events works hard to create opportunities for families to get out and enjoy the city. They offer many free events throughout the summer in addition to the outdoor movies, including concerts and a twice-weekly farmer’s market.
“We would like to thank all of our sponsors, especially our presenting partner Bison Financial Group / Bison Energy Partners,” said Valparaiso Events. “We would not be able to have great events like Summer Outdoor Movies without their support and dedication to the community.”
Central Park Plaza provides the perfect venue for outdoor movies and concerts. Valparaiso Events uses the space to its full potential by putting on free, community driven events throughout the year.
“It’s been a privilege to have been here since the beginning when the movies started in a grassy field with 25 people. Now, it’s a thousand people,” said Brown. “It’s evolved in such a great way. These movies reach out to every group; they appeal to every age and every interest. It’s free, and it’s fun.”