Hartwell, Georgia: City Plans for Big Outdoor Movie Showing this Summer

The city of Hartwell's Martin Luther King Jr. Parking Lot will be transformed into an outdoor movie theatre this summer. At its March 1 meeting, Hartwell city council unanimously approved an award of $1,600 to the Hartwell Downtown Development Authority for four community movies in the parking lot.

Carey Jackson, president of the DDA, listed Avatar as an example of a recent movie not yet available in DVD form that could be shown. The movies will be shown on a 25-foot, inflatable movie screen.

Jackson said the movie dates will be May 7, June 4, July 2 and Aug. 6. The movies to be shown have yet to be selected, though the DDA has purchased licensing rights to a group of movies. Admission to the movies will be free. Jackson said local civic organizations that sponsor the events would be allowed to sell concessions.

The DDA plan is for one civic organization to sponsor each event at a cost of $300. In return, the organization would have exclusive rights to sell concessions. Jackson said Toccoa had experienced phenomenal success with a similar program. Jackson said the parking lot, which is near the Hartwell Post Office, has a slope that would help viewing.

We think that's the optimum place downtown to have that event, he said.

John Barsier