The Interior Savings Moonlight Movie tour returns to Ashcroft for the third year in a row on Wednesday, August 24, with a showing of the hit movie Zootopia at the Ashcroft pool park.
The event is the main fundraiser for the annual Kids’ TRYathlon, sponsored by the Desert Hills Triathlon Club, and the Tri Club’s Vicky Trill is thrilled to have the event back in town.
“It’s a great event for the community,” she says, acknowledging that it’s unusual for the same place to host the event so often. “The staff at the credit union really go to bat for us each year.”
Corinne Johnson, community engagement manager for Interior Savings, says there are 14 communities taking part in the event, but only nine movie nights each year. “We try to hit each community every two to three years, but it makes the decision to bring the event back [to the same town] each year easier when the community is behind it.
“There were more than 400 people there last year, and we go by the community support, as well as the local branch team. The Ashcroft branch put in a really strong bid, and advertise and really help out with the project. It’s a great group to help out.”
This year’s event kicks off at 6 p.m., with the movie scheduled to start at sundown. Concessions, including the Ashcroft and District Lions Club with burgers, Ashcroft/Cache Creek Rotary with ice cream treats, and a donair wagon, will be there, and traditional movie food such as popcorn and pop will be available.
At 6:30 p.m. Kamloops rockers Paisley Groove, who were a huge hit when they appeared last year, will be back, in a concert sponsored by the Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society. Olympics-themed games and fun for the whole family start at 7 p.m., hosted by the teen sports program at the Ashcroft HUB.
The movie starts at dusk, projected onto a giant inflatable movie screen. Photo from Interior Savings.
The movie will be shown on a giant inflatable cinema screen starting at approximately 8 p.m. People are encouraged to get to the park early to enjoy the pre-movie festivities and get a good viewing spot. There is no charge to attend the event, but a donation of $3 per person and $10 for a family of four is suggested. All proceeds from the event go to support the TRYathlon.
“The funds from this are what run the TRYathlon,” says Trill, adding that United Way supports the annual training camp. “We’re delighted to be able to partner with Interior Savings and be part of the Moonlight Movie tour. I hope everyone will take the opportunity to enjoy this unique movie experience with friends and family.”
She adds that volunteers to help with the set-up, concessions, or take-down of the event are welcome. For more information, or to volunteer during the event, call Trill at (250) 457-7038.