Tenth Annual Outdoor Movie Night

Vashon Film Society wraps up summer with a celluloid bow and presents its tenth annual Outdoor Movie Night at the historic Vashon Theatre on Saturday, August 27.  

VFS will screen the 1971 classic family  musical “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” the magical original film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s novel. The free screening outside under the stars next to the Vashon Theatre hopes to provide “a world of pure imagination” for all audience members.

The outdoor movie show is the film society’s annual gift to the community and supports the group’s mission of “preserving the Vashon Theatre as THE place on Vashon to see films.”

Because this is the tenth anniversary of this end-of-summer tradition, VFS and the Vashon Theatre have dreamed up a whole slate of fun Willy Wonka-themed activities for all ages.

In addition to movies, the day of festivities will include a Golden Ticket candy bar contest, a “scrumdiddlyumptious” cake from Snapdragon Bakery, a beer garden for adults, and commemorative Violet Beauregarde bubble gum for kids.
Stageworks is furnishing a giant high definition screen that will be set up all day in the Theatre’s parking lot.

From 2-4 pm, especially for the preschool set, there will be free Peanuts cartoons screening on the huge outdoor screen.
 Then from 5-7 pm, the teenagers get their turn with two hours dedicated to free video gaming on the Stageworks screen.

From 8 to 9 pm, local short films and live music will entertain outdoor movie fans who arrive early to set up their lawn chairs and picnic blankets for the screening at dusk in the Vashon Theatre parking lot.

“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” will play at 9 pm, and the Vashon Theatre concession stand will sell popcorn and treats before and during the show.

And after the Gene Wilder family classic wraps up at 10:30, one final event will unspool for night owls: a special late night horror flick at 11 o’clock!

With ever-changing technology affecting how and where people see movies, this annual Vashon Film Society event focuses on the communal joy of experiencing films together at the island’s historic movie house.  

The Vashon Film Society was formed more than twenty years ago to rally support and enthusiasm for the island’s endangered cinema house. The decade-long tradition of an outdoor family movie in summer –  plus the Art Film series, theTuesday night GreenTech community screenings, cinema showings of National Theatre Live and Bolshoi Ballet productions, and the Oscar Night scholarship benefit – have all highlighted the vital presence of our community’s beloved movie theater in the heart of Vashon.

“We are so lucky to have a wonderful vintage movie theater in our community,” said Vashon Film Society’s Leslie McMichael. “There’s no better place to see films on the island.”