Free Friday Family Films to continue on June 14 in Newkirk

NEWKIRK — The 2019 Outdoor Family Movie Series will continue June 14 in Newkirk with a showing of a Disney hit on the Kay County Courthouse lawn, 201 S. Main St.

The 2018 animated feature “Ralph Breaks the Internet” will be shown starting at 8 p.m. Friday. This PG-rated film is sponsored by Newkirk Main Street, Inc. It is an hour and 52 minutes long.

“This is our third straight year to bring this special outreach event to Newkirk,” said Nick Hernandez, city manager of Arkansas City. “We so enjoy working with Newkirk Main Street to make this possible.”

In the film, which takes place six years after the events of “Wreck-It Ralph,” Ralph and Vanellope — now friends — discover a Wi-Fi router in their arcade, leading them into a brand-new adventure.

Prior films shown in Newkirk have been “Sing” in 2017, and “Despicable Me 3” in 2018.

Five more movies are planned this year, including several other recent animated hits and a fourth edition of the popular “pool movie” at Paris Park Pool. (More pool event details will be announced later.)

The remaining schedule of 2019 Free Friday Family Films is as follows (more announced later):

• “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” — 8 p.m. Friday, June 28 at Wilson Park;
• “Aquaman” — 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 12 at Paris Park Pool (free admission starts at 7 p.m.)

Three more movies will be shown in the fall, in conjunction with other planned events.

In case of inclement weather on any movie night, the movie will be postponed to the next Friday.

“We are so appreciative of the generous sponsors who make these wonderful events possible,” Hernandez said. “If you are interested in being a sponsor in the fall, please call me or Andrew Lawson at (620) 441-4415 to discuss pricing. Sponsorship rates have not changed from 2018 rates.”

About the Outdoor Family Movie Series

The 2015 Outdoor Family Movie Series was a huge success in the debut season for the new V.J. Wilkins Memorial Stage at the rotunda, with particularly large crowds viewing “Big Hero 6” and “Frozen.”

The projection equipment, sound system and stage all were made possible by a generous grant received three years ago from the V.J. Wilkins Foundation, in order to promote arts throughout the city.

A special fall showing of “Inside Out” drew more than 300 people to the rotunda in November 2015, despite colder temperatures. Plans were launched then for more autumn showings in 2016 and 2017.

Various weather impacted attendance often in the spring and summer of 2016, but the season’s highlight undoubtedly was in June 2016, when more than 700 people packed Paris Park Pool for a special doubleheader, consisting of “Finding Nemo” and “Jaws,” during a free swim-in night at the pool.

The sequel event, featuring “Finding Dory,” drew more than 500 visitors to the pool on July 21, 2017.

The 2018 season kicked off May 5 with the first-ever Saturday night movie, “Coco,” which drew more than 150 people back to the rotunda following the inaugural Salsa Fest event on Cinco de Mayo.

Nearly 75 attended the June 12, 2018, showing of “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” the first-ever Tuesday movie, shown in conjunction with the Arkansas City Farm and Art Market’s monthly festival.

The 2019 season’s start was delayed one week by weather, but a decent crowd still showed up May 10 to enjoy a repeat airing of “Coco,” originally planned as a kickoff for the first-ever Tacolalah festival.

During the last five years, the City of Arkansas City has shown a wide variety of movies, including:

• ’80s classics — “Back to the Future,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Ghostbusters,” “The Great Outdoors,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “¡Three Amigos!”
• Classic Disney films — “The Fox and the Hound,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Muppet Christmas Carol” and “Pete’s Dragon”
• Disney animated features — “Big Hero 6,” “Frozen,” “Moana” and “Zootopia”
• Disney live-action remakes — “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cinderella” and “Maleficent”
• Disney-Pixar animated collaborations — “Coco” (twice), “Finding Dory,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Good Dinosaur,” “Incredibles 2” and “Inside Out”
• Marvel Cinematic Universe films — “Black Panther,” “Doctor Strange,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Thor: Ragnarok”
• Other animated films — “Despicable Me 3” (twice), “The Lego Batman Movie,” “The Lego Movie,” “The Lorax,” “Minions,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Sing” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
• Star Wars movies — “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Star Wars: A New Hope” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
• Summer and holiday blockbusters — “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “The Greatest Showman,” “Jaws,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Jurassic Park,” “Jurassic World,” “Monster Trucks,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” and “Wonder”

The Outdoor Family Movie Series is only possible with the assistance of many generous donors:

• Civic and service clubs such as the Arkansas City High School KAY Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Optimists and Soroptimists of Arkansas City;
• Local businesses such as Ark City Daily Bytes, Ark Valley Credit Union, Community National Bank & Trust, Elite Advertising, Grass Clippings, Mitch Reichle—Farm Bureau Financial Services, Munson Insurance, A Perfect Day (located in Newkirk, Oklahoma), Plumber Bob’s, RCB Bank, Reedy Ford, Rogers Family Dentistry, The Stock Exchange Bank, Union State Bank, United Agency, and WB Meats;
• Governmental entities such as the Arkansas City Public Library, the City of Arkansas City and Visit Ark City;
• Nonprofit organizations such as the Arkalalah Executive Committee, the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce, the Fraternal Order of Police, Newkirk (Oklahoma) Main Street, Newman’s Quest and the Young Professionals of Cowley County.

For more information on becoming a sponsor for a movie in 2019, call Andrew Lawson at (620) 441-4415 or email [email protected].