Bellevue's movies in the park becomes popular family event

Bellevue’s movies in the park becomes popular family event

For the past four years, Emily and her mother, Rebecca Kuno, have never missed a week of summer outdoor movies at Bellevue's Downtown Park. The event, sponsored by the city of Bellevue and its major sponsor, inome, the parent company of Intelius, has become a family tradition for the Kunos and when spring arrives Emily begins asking her mom when the movies at the park will start.

July 26, 2012 7:02 pm

By ALICE HANH

UW News Lab

“I wanted to see ‘Zookeeper’,” said Emily Kuno, aged 7. “I also like to get free popcorn!”

For the past four years, Emily and her mother, Rebecca Kuno, have never missed a week of summer outdoor movies at Bellevue’s Downtown Park. The event, sponsored by the city of Bellevue and its major sponsor, inome, the parent company of Intelius, has become a family tradition for the Kunos and when spring arrives Emily begins asking her mom when the movies at the park will start.

The Tuesday night movies are the family-friendly variety. They are open to all ages and free. While the movies begin at dusk – around 9 p.m. – people start arriving and getting their spot on the lawn at 7:30 p.m.

Those at a recent showing were there for a variety of reasons.

“It is a nice summer activity,” said Maddie Hagen, who was at the park earlier in the day and saw the signs for the event.

Married couple Jennie and Aidan Crook came with their infant child to see the movie. They said that it was nice to get out of the house and have a picnic.

“Bellevue always does a nice job showing movies at the park,” said Jennie.

Last week, “Happy Feet 2” played, and both kids and adults were enjoying their free popcorn and animal crackers. Music was playing, kids were dancing, and even a giant, colorful beach ball was bouncing around above the crowd. The big, black blow-up screen was up and families brought their blankets and foldable chairs.

Although movies are free, donations – in money or specified items – are accepted for a different non-profit each week.

Victoria Hollerbach, acting public information officer for the Bellevue Parks Department, explained over the phone that a company, inome, works with the city to purchase the screen and the movies.

Here is the schedule for the upcoming movies and the non-profit being sponsored each week. Charities for the first four shows were The Sophia Way, the Highland Community Center, Ashoka, and Kindering.

Upcoming movies, and benefiting non-profits are:

July 31: “The Adventures of Tintin,” Kindering

Aug. 7 : “Soul Surfer,” iCareWeCare

Aug. 14: “Big Miracle,” Bellevue LifeSpring

Aug. 21: “Dolphin Tale,” Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue

Aug. 28: “We Bought a Zoo,” YouthCare

The Downtown Park is located at 10201 NE Fourth St. If rain, the movies are shown at the South Bellevue Community Center, 14509 SE Newport Way.

Alice Hanh is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.