Imagine sitting beneath the stars at Talleyrand Park in downtown Bellefonte with your family and friends, enjoying a movie on a big screen on a warm summer night.
The Bellefonte Women’s Club has been working to make that happen, and Bellefonte’s borough council approved a plan May 21 for a series of movies at the park in summer 2019, as well as a kickoff movie to be shown later this summer, said Karen Truesdale, who has been spearheading the project.
“This movie project is open to all people. It is free movies in Talleyrand Park,’ said Truesdale.
‘There are two large grassy across the bridge where people can come and bring their blankets and their beach chairs and watch a free movie. My vision is that people come to Bellefonte stop at the stores and get some dinner, pick up a pizza, pick up a burger and bring it down to the park and sit and enjoy a movie with your family and with your friends.”
Truesdale said she plans to run seven different movie nights next summer with alternating themes, including a children’s movie night, a teen movie night and a classics movie night, all on a 16-foot outdoor screen.
The Women’s Club is still in the process of securing all the necessary funds to secure movie rights and equipment costs. Truesdale said they are open to working with businesses who might like to sponsor a certain movie night and be a part of the presentation of the movies.
Though the project had been talked about for many years, it never came to fruition because it is a lot of work. Truesdale recently retired from nursing and felt like it was something that was worth the effort. She was inspired by movie magic.
“If you remember the movie ‘The Wedding Planner,’ it starts in the beginning with Jennifer Lopez sitting in a park with a movie playing and that’s how it ends, and I thought it looked lovely,” said Truesdale. “I thought to myself, we have a beautiful park right downtown, we can do this.”
Truesdale said the town has been missing a movie venue since the Garman Theatre burned down, and she hopes that people who might not be able to afford to get out to the movies take advantage of the free offer. She said she plans to have popcorn and water for sale at a low cost during movie nights to make the experience authentic.
The club will pick a date soon for the date of the teaser movie to be played later this summer.
“I am looking forward to this being an exciting but relaxing family night out in the park that will provide family-together time and memories,” said Truesdale.
Those interested in making a donation or becoming a sponsor can email Truesdale at kmtruesdale3@gmail.com.
