Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) today announced the film titles for the 2016 Movies in the Park series hosted in partnership with the event’s Red Carpet Sponsor – the Michigan Lottery.

  • June 3 – Wizard of Oz
  • June 17 – Men in Black
  • July 8 – A League of Their Own
  • July 22 – The Mask of Zorro
  • August 5 – Edward Scissorhands
  • August 19 - Double Feature: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off & a to-be-determined Voter’s Choice movie.

Public voting to select the Voter’s Choice film will open June 3, 2016.

DGRI this summer will experiment with three new event innovations to continue growing a more inclusive, welcoming and sustainable event. These innovations include:

  • Including subtitles for Spanish-speaking attendees and people with hearing impairments. Spanish subtitles will accompany the films played on June 3, July 8 and August 5. English subtitles will accompany films played on June 17, July 22 and August 19.
  • Partnering with the High Five Program to increase recycling rates, divert waste from the landfill and work towards achieving a zero waste event.
  • Partnering with a Coalition for Tobacco Free Parks to promote the importance of fresh air, raise awareness of tobacco use prevention and support clean parks.

The Movies in the Park event series stems from a community idea in 2013. Now in its fourth season, the summer series has emerged as a signature event in Downtown Grand Rapids. The 2015 series of six events attracted more than 31,000 people and drove an estimated $664,000 in consumer spending into the Downtown economy. Overall DGRI leveraged approximately $441 in economic return to Downtown and participating businesses for every DGRI-managed $1 invested to produce the events.

Movie Night Basics

  • All events are held at Ah-Nab-Awen Park in Downtown Grand Rapids.
  • Events are free to the public.
  • Pre-movie entertainment begins at 7PM and films begin at dusk.
  • Bring your own blanket, chairs, beer, wine and snacks.
  • Local food vendors will be on-site.

Movie Night Tips

To help movie goers enjoy the night out under the stars, here are a few quick tips:

  • The park fills up fast, so get there early for the best spots.
  • If you choose to drive, plan ahead for parking to avoid wasting time looking for a space.
  • Free bike parking is available at the park.
  • Costumes are encouraged.
  • Nothing beats an ice cold one on a warm summer night. If you’d like to partake, be sure to bring your own drinks and picture ID.
  • While packing up, you might as well make it a picnic in the park. If you forget food at home, vendors will have snacks for purchase.
  • You’ll be outside for a few hours, so get comfy. We suggest bringing a blanket or chairs to sit on. Blankets up front. Chairs in the back.
  • Those under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • You may love your ringtone, but that doesn’t mean everyone else does. Please silence your phones.
  • If you need to talk during the movie, please keep your voices low.
  • In the event of rain, we’ll have to cancel the show. Follow Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. on Facebook to stay up-to-date.

About DGRI

Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. is the organization responsible for city building and place-management in the urban core of the City of Grand Rapids, which anchors one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. DGRI’s mission is to continually elevate Downtown Grand Rapids as the best-in-class heart of an American city.

About the Michigan Lottery

About 97 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In the 2015 fiscal year, the Lottery’s contribution to Michigan’s public schools was a record $795.5 million. Since it began in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $19.6 billion to education in Michigan. For additional information, follow the Michigan Lottery on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and online at www.michiganlottery.com.