Summer on the Peninsula.
It’s a great time to get outdoors and spend time with the family while enjoying great food and entertainment.
That’s why four community organizations have banded together to host the first of what they hope will become an annual event.
On Saturday, Aug. 18, the Central Saanich Little League (CSLL) will partner with the Saanichton Village Association, the Central Saanich Lions and the Brentwood Bay Community Association to present a free family movie at Centennial Park in Saanichton.
Given the involvement of the Little League, and the proximity of the Little League diamond at the park, it’s only appropriate that the featured movie is “The Sandlot”, a coming of age comedy starring Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Karen Allen, Denis Leary and James Earl Jones. The movie is centered on the role that a summer of sandlot baseball had in back in 1962, when it helped a group of boys discover themselves and the meaning of friendship.
“The movie is being shown on Centennial Field with the screen on what we call Diamond 4. When we partnered with CSLL, The Sandlot came up time and time again as the natural choice as I’ve been told it’s the best family baseball movie of all time,“ said Marti Redman, the Treasurer of the Central Saanich Little League and one of the driving forces behind organizing the event.
“The event is first and foremost a free community event to celebrate this amazing place we live and bring people together like all of our other events. Our Central Saanich Family Festival is happening the same day st the Peninsula Country Market at the Saanich Fairgrounds.”
The film will be shown on a gigantic inflatable movie screen and folks are encouraged to come out with their lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a film that has become a sort of cult classic amongst families across North America.
“This has been a truly Herculean effort by Martina. She has brain-stormed all of the logistics of the event and without amazing people like her, we’d all be watching Netflix at home by ourselves,”said Jim Townley, President of Fresh Cup Roastery Cafe’.
In addition to the movie, the Central Saanich Lions will be offering a (cash) barbecue dinner and the CSLL will be hosting some fun baseball activities and games.
Of course, no movie is complete without popcorn and snacks and the CSLL will be offering up the goodies through their concession stand.
“This is a great family event and I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer night than to get together with neighbours and friends to watch a film under the stars,” said Townley.
The whole event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. at Centennial Park.