Putting the Family Back in Movie Night

The City of Valparaiso’s free family movie nights have become an extremely popular way for families to spend Tuesday nights in June and July. “We’ve had record attendance in recent weeks and we’re delighted to see families out enjoying an evening out together,” said Tina St. Aubin, Director of Valparaiso Community Festivals and Events. “We’ve been continuing to enhance the sound so that viewers can better hear the movie even in the back rows,” she said.

Unfortunately, there have been some unintended consequences of hosting such a popular, free event. “We’re seeing group of more than 100 youngsters and teens gathering downtown on movie night, with no interest in the movie itself,” said Captain Mike DeHaven of the Valparaiso Police Department. “We want to foster a wholesome night out and we’ve learned that many parents are surprised to learn their kids aren’t actually watching the movie. We want to avoid having kids collecting in dark parking lots where their safety may be compromised or congregating in areas where they may disrupt the movie itself,” he said.

“We really want to continue providing this great, free entertainment. We make sure to choose movie titles that are family friendly and strive to provide an atmosphere that matches,” said St. Aubin. To learn about upcoming movie titles and other Valparaiso events, visit valparaisoevents.com.