Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures via AP
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film “Wicked.”
The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department’s Movies in the Park series returns on May 17 with a blockbuster of an opening movie.
Sponsored by the Columbus Park Foundation, the Movies in the Park series gives moviegoers of all ages a chance to see popular movies for free in Mill Race Park, Recreation Program Manager Jacob Hendricks said. This year’s series will begin with “Wicked” on Saturday, with the movie beginning at night fall, he said. He estimates this will be about 8:30 or 8:45 p.m. for the May movie.
“So since it’s an outdoor movie, we’re always kind of dependent on when the sun goes down. And so as the summer goes on, the start time of the movie usually changes, so we always advertise ‘darkfall,’” Hendricks said. “Because it’s not just sunset, it is when it starts to get dark…”
Those attending are welcome to come and set up their lawn chairs and blankets a little early to secure their spot. Free popcorn will be provided by Columbus Parks and Recreation, and Miss Rachel’s Neat Treats will be available too, Hendricks said. People are welcome to bring their own food from home as well.
The next movie in the Movies in the Park series will be “Wonka” on June 21. For this showing, Hendricks said they are partnering with the Mill Race Theatre Company, as their summer musical production this year is “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
“July is actually Parks and Rec Month, and so that is a month that we celebrate ourselves and then we also have our Park Foundation, which is kind of like our fundraising, non-profit partner that helps make free events like this possible,” Hendricks said. “They take over our July movie and our July movie is a movie in the pool. So that one will be at Donner Pool, so those are usually pretty well attended. We’re showing ‘Moana 2’ for that one.”
Other movies to be shown this season are 2025’s “Lilo and Stitch” on Sept. 20 and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” on Oct. 4. Hendricks said they try to have a good mix of recent and popular movies during each series in addition to some older titles as well. While attendance does depend on what movie is being shown, he said they usually have a decent crowd of around 200 to 300 attend Movies in the Park.
“I think when people find out about this free summer thing to do, especially when it’s free because I think sometimes people love to take advantage of that stuff, so (we’re) happy to have them,” Hendricks said.
Official start times for the movies will be posted on the Columbus Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
