Movies in the Park

Every summer Salem pulls out a giant screen, sets it up in Riverfront Park's grassy amphitheater, and the city's citizens gather under the setting sun for a shared movie experience. This free downtown Salem activity takes place on warm Saturday nights and has apparently been around since 2008 (?!) but somehow my first time to attend was just last year.

I was determined to go again this year, and Saturday that dream came true. The movie, The Muppets, was set to start at about 9:00 (they adjust the start time each week to adjust for the sunset time). We left my apartment early, a little after 8:30. From my experience last year, I knew it was beneficial to arrive early or we'd be stuck in the waaaay back where the sound is less than desirable.

I love that my apartment is just a couple blocks from the park. Super convenient to walk over.

We made our way to the amphitheater and found a great spot close to the screen. As the sunset lit up the clouds, we laid a blanket on the grass and waited for the show to start. People lined up at the food cart that was on site or took pictures with some photogenic characters.

When the sun was low enough in the sky, they warmed the crowd up with some funny Muppet short films like Bohemian Rhapsody.

Then as the stars came out and the moon was shining bright, they started the feature film. We pulled out the cozy quilt I had brought since the night turned chilly. I'd seen the movie once before (I <3 the Muppets) but for some reason, I liked it better this time. Maybe it was the setting. It was so peaceful to be outside, with a cool breeze blowing every so often, stars overhead, and the hushed sound of voices speaking quietly. Patchy clouds rolled in and the moon illuminated them. It reminded me of the peacefulness I feel when sitting around a campfire.

The movie went off without a hitch (only one tiny paused moment while it played). Then we folded up our blankets and walked through the streets of downtown back to my apartment. What a nice way to spend a summer night.

If you'd like to check out a movie in the park, there's still three more available this summer:  The Lorax, Inside Out, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I recommend it :)