Over the summer, the Muncie Dowtown Development Partnership played host to the Free Friday Night Movie event at the 400 block of South Walnut Street.
Each Friday at dusk, Muncie residents grabbed their lawn chairs and headed downtown for a free movie and concessions provided by local vendors. Movies that were shown included "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs."
"I think the event is wonderful," said Sarah Barnes, Muncie resident and employee at The Artist Within. "It gives families in Muncie the opportunity to go see a movie together without having to spend money. A family of four going to the movie theater can get really expensive. This event brings both families and the community together."
Cheryl Crowder, head of the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, said that between 150 and 200 people attended the event each week.
This was the series' ninth year, and the partnership plans on having the 10th next summer.
"As long as we can find sponsorship for it, we will continue to do it," Crowder said.
With the projected opening of Canan Commons, the new park on Walnut Street set to open in early 2011, the partnership plans on moving locations to the park.
"We will have a much better set up next year," Crowder said. "If everything goes as planned, we will be in the park."
Matt Bailey, the interim parks superintendent of Muncie Parks Development, said that the park will not feature playgrounds or other typical park amenities but rather an oval walkway and performance stage.
"It will be an event and passive park and will provide a place for community events to be held," Bailey said.
The stage will be fitted with a screen on which the movies can be shown. Crowder said she believes that the new park will be a wonderful new venue for the event and will draw in even more community involvement.
Other events that the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership is heading in the upcoming months are the Arts Block on Oct. 7 and the Luminaria Holiday Walk in early December.
The last Free Friday Night Movie event takes place tonight, and the movie being shown is "The Hannah Montana Movie." Crowder expects a good turnout for the final show.
"We invite all the Ball State students out to our last event. It's your last chance to take part in it. And come on, what college student doesn't love Hannah Montana?" Crowder said.
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