Summer is wrapping up and its almost time for the most beautiful weather of the year in the Bay area! The sweltering temperatures and humidity are about to give way to warm dry beautiful days and pleasantly cool evenings. The native Floridians who have likely been hibernating all summer long will once again emerge from their shady dwellings and the patios along Beach Drive and Hyde Park will be filled with people. It’s a fantastic time of year to call Florida home and it’s the time of year one of St. Petersburg’s favorite pastimes returns – Movies in the Park.
The 2015 season begins on Saturday, September 26th and runs through October. Movies in the Park is a free event where you can grab a blanket or a beach chair and walk, bike or drive to Downtown St. Petersburg’s North Straub Park for a great evening of free entertainment.
St. Petersburg Preservation hosts Downtown St. Pete’s Movies in the Park and this year they are adding an early showing at a new venue. The first Movies in the Park event will be held on September 26th at Sunset Park. This is a special showing as part of the Central Avenue Solstice and it’s the only evening a movie will be shown on Saturday. All of the other events are on Thursdays in October. We’ve listed the location information and movies that will be shown at the bottom of this post.
Movies in the Park offers bicycle valet on-site. You’re welcome to pack your picnic and ride on down or there are food and beverage stations at the park where you can purchase whatever your heart desires. At 6:00 you’ll enjoy live music until the movie begins around sunset. Gentlemen… if you need an excellent idea for date night that will win you A TON of extra points without breaking the bank… this is for you… we’re just saying! It would also make for an excellent “girls night”. There’s few more beautiful ways to enjoy an October evening in St. Petersburg than on a blanket at a waterfront park at sunset while watching a great flick and enjoying an old fashioned picnic!
Now, all that’s left to do is to decide which movie you want to see! Here’s the lineup for this year’s event:
September 26 – “Sunshine State” at Sunset Park
This is the only date the movie will be held at Sunset Park instead of North Straub Park. Sunset Park is located on Central Avenue and Park Street.
Live music for this event will be performed by Christie Lenee.
Sunshine State starts Angela Basset and Edie Falco. The movie takes place in Florida and deals with property development and other issues. You may have visited Amelia Island, Florida. The area provided the setting for the movie and it was filmed there. This movie is rated PG-13.
October 1 – “Moonstruck” at North Straub Park
Live music begins at 6:00pm and Roy Schneider and Kim Mayfield are expected to perform.
This 1987 movie stars Nicholas Cage and Share who won an Academy Award for playing the part of Loretta. In this love story Loretta fall in love with the brother of the man she’s supposed to marry. It’s rated PG.
October 8 – “Raiders of the Lost Ark” at North Straub Park
Get ready for some Blues and Jazz Funk as Ari and Alibis are expected to dazzle movie-goers with live music beginning at 6pm.
Indiana Jones fans will get their fill as Harrison Ford stars in this 1981 Spielberg film. You’ll remember this one is where Jones must find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do. It’s an action packed adventure on the waterfront! Bring the family for this PG rated film.
October 15 – “The Sister Act” at North Straub Park
It’s reggae, rock, and hip hop fused together for an incredible sound as Freelow entertains the crowd before the movie. Remember, music starts at 6 and the movie begins at dusk.
Who doesn’t love a little Whoopi Goldberg as a nun! We won’t judge you if you can’t help but sing along to this 2002 hit 🙂 It’s rated PG.
October 22- “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” at North Straub Park
Enjoy the music of Skully before this movie.
We all would love to get that golden ticket just once, right! This family freindly movie is the original starring Gene Wilder. This 1971 (that’s hard to believe) is rated G.
October 29- “The Birds” at North Straub Park
Blues, boogie, and originals is how Liz Pennock and Dr. Blues describe their music. They’re set to perform at 6pm.
Perhaps no one outs the scary in Halloween like a Hitchcock thriller. The timing is certainly appropriate to visit the small Northern Califronia town with a wealthy socialite who encounters some birds…
Now you’ve got all of the details – all you have to do is grab a beach chair (you know the ones that sit low to the ground), some friends or the family and head to the park for an evening that’s sure to get you ready for the weekend! Enjoy and let us know what you think.
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