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Brantford, Ontario: Annual Scarefest and Outdoor Movie Fun for the Whole Family

By Open Air Cinema on October 15, 2009 in Outdoor Movie Events

As darkness falls upon the downtown on Oct. 23 and 24, prepare for the second annual Scare in the Square.

Such a fearsome success was last year’s event that organizers are making sure Harmony Square will once again be full of spooky activity designed to “scare the yell out of you,” said Lori-Dawn Cavin, who is organizing the fright nights.

“This is very much geared to families,” said Cavin, the city’s community events co-ordinator. “We want to get them downtown and give them a positive experience.”

The fun gets underway on Friday, Oct. 23 at 4:30 p. m., with the judging of the scarecrows entered by local businesses.

On Saturday, families are invited to trick or treat in the core beginning at 3 p. m. Trick-or-treaters are asked to register at the information kiosk in the square. Each child wearing a costume will receive a free trick or treat bag and a map listing the participating goodie sites. Costume judging will be held at 4:30 p. m.

At 5 p. m. on both nights, visitors can pull up a straw bale and enjoy hours of live entertainment. On the Bell Stage will be ghost stories; dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, led by the Academy of Dance; family entertainment by Freedom House; and theatre by Talk of the Town Productions. The haunting sounds of bands, including Two Year Toque, Monstereo and Flaming Youth -a tribute to Kiss -will also fill the square.

The scarefest wraps up with an outdoor movie -Casper the Friendly Ghost -shown on a giant inflatable screen. Bring your lawnchairs and an extra blanket or two.

“A family can come down and spend five hours being entertained and not spend a penny,” said Cavin.

Up to 1,500 people a night came out to last year’s Scare in the Square. Cavin said two major sponsors, BMO Bank of Montreal and Nesbitt Burns, have committed support to the festival for the next three years, allowing organizers to add to the fun.

The first 100 children to arrive each night will have a chance to visit Casper’s Craft Corner to paint their own pumpkin -donated by Brantwood Farms -to take home.

Tractor-drawn hayrides, at a cost of $3, will make a stop at a secret pumpkin patch to hear a shocking tale offered by the Brant Taletellers.

The Brantford Arts Block dares visitors to brave the Scare in the Square Haunting when the Bodega Inn is transformed into a hotel of terror. The cost is $3.

The Brant Historical Society is once again offering spirited walks through the downtown on both nights. For $2, the lamplight tour guides will provide interesting details about the core’s nooks and crannies.

New this year is the BMO Booville, located in the Market Street Bank of Montreal parking lot on both nights beginning at 5 p. m. Created especially for the youngest visitors, activities include a straw maze.

Michelle Ruby

source-http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2119625

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Sudbury, Ontario: Family Camp hosts Outdoor Movies

By Open Air Cinema on September 14, 2009 in Outdoor Movie Events

In June, the Colasimone family assembled a 20-by-16 plywood screen as part of the latest expansion of their backyard theatre. Photo supplied to The Sudbury Star

Old enough to remember the Highway 69 Drive-In?

How about the Lasalle Drive-In? The Starlite in Hanmer?

There was a time in Greater Sudbury when you could watch a movie from your car or take out a lawn chair, set it up in front of your vehicle and crank up the speaker volume.

That’s what it’s like to experience the outdoor theatre at the Colasimone family camp on Ella Lake near Capreol.

What started out as a projector and a nine-by-four screen featuring the occasional movie five years ago is a 20-by-16 permanent screen, a projection booth and nine speakers surrounding the screen. The current theatre was assembled in June.

“How it started was one of my cousins died,” said John Colasimone. “We had a party in his honour at the camp and my neighbour said ‘I will bring my projector and screen to show the slides.’ I said to myself ‘this works great outside.’ ”

Colasimone said the theatre started out small and kept growing.

“Every year, it just got bigger,” he said. “We started with a regular, standard-size screen. Then, we graduated to a four-by-eight section of plywood. Then, it became 10 feet.”

Colasimone said the area the backyard theatre encompasses is huge.

“It’s about the size of a drive-in,” he said. “We love it.”

The Colasimones usually operate the theatre every Friday and Saturday after dusk until mid-October. On Friday nights, between eight and 50 people show up, many of them neighbours.

On the Civic Holiday weekend, some 150 people attended a family reunion at the camp and experienced the theatre.

There are no noise issues with the theatre because it is located “down a hole” and the sound doesn’t escape,’ said John.

A fire pit is located at the drive-in site to help keep viewers warm when it’s cool out.

Colasimone said he has some 110 DVDs featuring concerts by bands from the late 1960s to the present day that are shown at the theatre.

“Once you hear it, you will swear you are at the concert itself,” he said.

It should come as no surprise that John is proud of his family theatre, a project that has cost about $4,000.

Not a fan of sitting inside movie theatres, he prefers the drive-in experience or renting a movie.

“I haven’t been to the theatre since 1981,” he pointed out.

HAROLD CARMICHAEL, THE SUDBURY STAR

source: http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1714468

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Sault Saint Marie, Ontario: Music Draws Crowds to Outdoor Movies in Sault Saint Marie, Canada

By Open Air Cinema on July 15, 2009 in Outdoor Movie Events

Outdoor Movie Series in Sault Saint Marie, Canada Attention Sault Saint Marie residents and visitors! The Summer Shadows Outdoor Movie Series is adding live music events to the outdoor cinema screenings this summer. This will be an event you do not want to miss. Four solo acts will perform at the Bellevue Park bandshell preceeding the films, which will be shown on an inflatable screen. The outdoor films will begin at dusk.

With a late start this summer, the first film will be shown on Aug. 5.

Free frisbees will be distributed before the films to provide entertainment while waiting for the show to begin.

The titles of the films have not been released yet due to licensing restrictions, but they will be advertised a week before each film.

Movie-goers can look forward to popcorn at the outdoor movies as in previous years. You are also encouraged to bring blankets, flashlights, etc. All-in-all, this is a favorite summer tradition and a great way to get together with family and friends. Come enjoy a movie under the stars with the rest of the Sault Saint Marie community!

Click here for more information.

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