![Crestview Public Services facilities workers Cody Suggs (on ladder) and Stan McKenzie install a new movie screen system in the amphitheater at Spanish Trail Park for the cityís monthly Family Movie Night series. [CONTRIBUTED PHOTO]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-8b9aee71-8f40-5f60-e053-0100007f735c-fcc1b1c8.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW — Local families heading to the first film of the city’s new free monthly Family Movie Night will also get to see the innovative efforts of facilities management staff in the Public Services Department.
The first movie, a PG-rated Disney animated release, kicks off the series at 8 p.m. June 28 at Old Spanish Trail Park on Stillwell Boulevard in Crestview with games and food starting at 6 p.m. Admission is free, and ample parking is available on the lawn south of the amphitheater. Enter through the gates off Stillwell Boulevard.
Minor children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring folding chairs. Those wishing to sprawl out on the concrete floor are welcome to do so, but in addition to a blanket, foam camping mattresses are recommended.
For title and plot synopsis, contact the Crestview Parks and Recreation Department’s Programs office, 682-0789. The exhibition contract precludes releasing the film title in the media.
After the June 28 screening kicks off the series, the event will move to and remain on Saturday evenings, preceded by games and food.
For the monthly series, Crestview Public Services professionals had to devise a sturdy, effective, temporary screen system for the Spanish Trail Park amphitheater. It had to be easily rigged yet equally easy to remove after each film so as not to interfere with other events in the venue. Most importantly, movies have to look good when projected on it.
“We want a quality family experience,” said Crestview Mayor JB Whitten, who is presenting the monthly films under his Mayor’s Cultural Series initiative. “I want them to look good and sound good.”
A cable strung across the stage on which the screen could be hung met the challenge. In preparation for the first film in the series, while workers hung the screen, another team was busy cleaning up the amphitheater, including removing damaged, soiled and drooping insulation pads from the underside of the facility roof.
A new digital projector specifically made for outdoor, high-humidity venues was purchased for the monthly Family Movie Night series, which are sponsored by local businesses. The first showing is sponsored by Hub City Smokehouse and Grill, which will offer food for purchase before the film screens.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview sets first Family Movie Night