Despite cloudy skies and high temperatures, Evanston families and Northwestern students filled the grass of Cohen Lawn outside Norris University Center to watch “Inside Out 2” light up the screen at Kahn Pavilion, kicking off NU’s Summer Cinema series Thursday evening.
The outdoor movie series, sponsored by Norris University Center and the Office of Summer Sessions and Special Programs, is free and open to the public. The series will screen movies at Kahn Pavilion every Thursday night for the rest of July, including “WALL-E,” “Turning Red” and “Mulan.”
The movie screenings start around 8 p.m., and family activities include glitter artists and free glowsticks. Blankets are also available one hour before the movies start. Check-in for the events begins at 6:30 p.m., and participants can register for a free blanket online. During the events, participants can buy food and drinks at Luna’s Pub & Grill.
Norris Programs Assistant and rising Weinberg junior Daniela Caceres said the purpose of the event is to turn the otherwise quiet campus into a family-friendly environment.
Caceres, who attended the event last year, added the movie series is meant to entertain NU students, families and Evanston residents.
Programming for the event began in June 2013, but this is the first year it’s taking place at NU’s new Kahn Pavilion. Last year, the Summer Cinema series was held on the Arts Green.
Norris Programs Supervisor and rising McCormick junior Jasmine Porter said the event was designed not only to bring people together but also to offer Evanston residents an opportunity to engage with the University.
“We have a gorgeous campus here,” Porter said. “It’d be a shame for it to go unutilized in the summer. We also have a bunch of families out in Evanston that want to get involved with us, whether it be the Northwestern campus or just find something fun to do in the evening.”
Porter said summer provides an “ideal opportunity” to bring NU students and Evanston residents together through outdoor programming, something she said is difficult to do during the academic year.
This sentiment resonated with some attendees. Rising fourth-year industrial engineering graduate student Cameron Curtis said the lighter pace of summer was one reason he attended the event.
“It’s kind of isolating when you don’t have classes in the summer,” he said. “And so, this event it’s really a chance to get a bunch of people from the community together, which, movie or no movie, that’s really what I’m here for.”
For some attendees, the event gave them a reason to visit NU’s campus.
Morton Grove resident Lidya Garcia said she visits the campus whenever possible, and this time, she said she found a “beautiful” excuse to bring her family to Evanston to spend time together outside.
“It’s great to be able to come to the University campus, ’cause it’s gorgeous, and you’re right off the lake,” Garcia said.
Evanston resident Jacqueline Mendonza shared Garcia’s sentiment. Her first time attending the series, Mendonza said she brought her son, who has a disability, along with her sister and nephew to enjoy the outdoor screening in a “safe space.”
“It’s just really helpful for us parents who have children with disabilities to be able to provide a safe space for them,” she said. “And, you know, who doesn’t like being outside with a movie, a popcorn and just outdoors in general?”
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