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Movies in the park start Friday By Buffy Pollock Updated: Jun 02, 2022 02:35 PM A A Central Point and Medford both offer movies under the stars during summer, and they both kick off June 3 Movies in the Park start Friday, June 3, in Central Point and Medford, and both are showing the same movie, the 2021 Disney hit “Encanto.” [Courtesy photo] One of the earliest and best signs that school is done and summer is about to be in full force is the start of outdoor movies in local parks. Just as the evening sunshine lingers a tad bit longer, outdoor movies offer a fun way to get some fresh air, enjoy cooler evening temperatures and spread out a blanket to relax. A summer staple for local families, movies in the park are offered by the cities of Central Point and Medford. Movies are held on select Fridays, starting this week, June 3. Both cities will kick off their summer movie lineups with the 2021 Disney hit “Encanto,” which follows the adventures of the endearing Colombian family the Madrigals. Central Point recreation manager Nikki Petersen said city officials were looking forward to this summer’s movies and other offerings. Even during pandemic restrictions last summer, Petersen said, residents still gathered — appropriately spaced out — to enjoy movies in the park. “We did scale it back, but we thankfully were able to still keep it going, since it was outside. People needed … something. This was a way to engage with the community without feeling like you were in a mask, and separated you could feel like things were kind of nice still,” Petersen said. One change is that no live music will be featured before the weekly movies yet. “We’re not quite ready to bring music back, like we’ve done in the past. No concerts yet. Just movies for now. We’re keeping things a little bit simple, but we have some great movies planned.” Central Point will feature movies at a rotating list of city parks, while Medford will host its movies mostly at Bear Creek Park off Highland Drive. Two special events are on tap. One movie will be featured during the Medford Cruise (June 17), and a “flick and float” will offer a movie screening during a swim session June 24 at the Jackson Aquatics Center. Both cities will also offer scary Halloween flicks at unique locations; “Poltergeist” will play at Central Point’s historical Masonic cemetery, adjacent to Don Jones Park. Medford will offer a Halloween shindig, complete with a movie, costume contest and other activities at the City of Medford Service Center. Movies begin at dusk, unless otherwise noted. Central Point June 3: “Encanto” (PG), Robert Pfaff Park, 635 Manzanita St. June 17: “Luca” (PG), Don Jones Park, 223 W. Vilas Road July 1: “Sing 2” (PG), Twin Creeks Park, 555 Twin Creeks Crossing Loop July 22: “Spider-Man” (PG-13), Robert Pfaff Park, 635 Manzanita St. Aug. 5: “Paw Patrol, the Movie” (G), Don and Flo Bohnert Farm Park, 525 Stone Pointe Drive Aug. 19: “Peter Rabbit 2” (PG), Don Jones Park, 223 W. Vilas Road Oct. 28: “Poltergeist” (PG-13), Masonic cemetery (adjacent to Don Jones Park) For info, see www.centralpointoregon.gov/parksrec/page/movies-park Medford June 3: “Encanto” (PG), Bear Creek Park, 1520 Siskiyou Blvd. June 10: “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (PG-13), Bear Creek Park, 1520 Siskiyou Blvd. June 17: “Back to the Future” (PG), Fichtner Mainwaring Park, 334 Holmes Ave. Held during the Medford Cruise, “Back to the Future” will be a drive-in-style movie. Parking begins at 6 p.m. Limited to 200 cars. Nonvehicle entries permitted after parking has filled up. June 24: “Raya” (PG), Jackson Aquatics Center, 816 Summit Ave. A “Flick and Float” event, the movie will be played in the pool area and is included with regular swim time admission. Floaties are allowed, and free popcorn will be available. Event begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 21: “Hocus Pocus” (PG), City of Medford Service Center, 411 W. Eighth St. A haunted drive-in-style movie; additional activities will include a costume contest, decorated car contest, trunk-or-treat and food trucks. For more details or to register, see www.playmedford.com . Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected].