Get your chairs and blankets ready, because downtown Midland movie nights are coming back.
As a result of Step 3 of the province of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen plan allowing for greater numbers to gather outdoors, the Midland BIA is partnering with the town of Midland to begin showing movies at the 509 Bay Street parking lot for the 2021 season.
“This came together quickly,” said Coun. Jonathan Main at a recent council meeting which granted approval to the BIA request. “We didn’t feel like a 25-person event was worthwhile, so we saved our events until Step 3; with 100 people, we’re going to move ahead and we’re going to do it as we’ve done before.”
There will be some changes from previous years, however. In the BIA’s request to council, it was written that “the utmost safety for attendees” will be provided according to the current health and safety provisions as set by the province and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unity (SMDHU).
Within the public health measure guidelines on the province’s website, outdoor organized public events allow for up to 100 people in attendance, and face coverings and social distancing are encouraged.
Main added that pre-registration for the 100-person outdoor event will be a consideration leading up to the event, as popularity for the after-dark movie nights tend to average around the 100-person mark with each showing.
Currently, the following films, dates, and times are anticipated for the 2021 season:
- Wed. July 28 – Frozen 2 (showtime 9:00 p.m.)
- Wed. August 11 – Big News from Grand Rock (showtime 8:45 p.m.)
- Wed. August 25 – Raya and the Last Dragon (showtime 8:15 p.m.)
- Wed. September 8 – Soul (showtime 7:45 p.m.)
- Wed. September 22 – Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the
Wardrobe (showtime 7:30 p.m.)
- Sat. October 9 – Hotel Transylvania: Transformia (showtime 7:00 p.m.); Get Out (showtime 8:45 p.m.)
“Big News from Grand Rock” is a 2014 film, shot in Midland with appearances from the familiar faces of many local residents.
“We heard back from Markham Street Films, they’re really excited for us to show it,” Main shared.
Coun. Cody Oschefski gave his support to the return of the movie nights, saying it was a little taste of getting back to normal.
“It’s great to see the downtown so quick on the trigger when things opened up,” said Oschefski. “(There’s) a lot of people eager to get out of the house and do something, so it’s great to see the town of Midland open back up and be that attraction that we’re known to be.”
“Just a reminder that the parking will be free, because it’s in the evening,” Coun. Bill Gordon added with a laugh, noting that some members of council were “taking a real beating on supporting the parking the past couple of weeks.”
Mayor Stewart Strathearn quipped, “I can see the bruises from here.”
Further details on the movie nights will be available at the Downtown Midland website.