By Sean Delaney
The Emery Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) hosted its second “Movie in the Park” event of the summer on August 9th. The new location of Lanyard Park at 138 Lanyard Road, provided a perfect setting for an unforgettable night filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit.
The day began with some concerns as Toronto experienced heavy rain on Friday morning. However, by mid-afternoon the sun broke through leaving moviegoers with warm temperatures and clear skies. Or, a selection of perfect weather for a night outdoors.
Families arrived early, bringing along chairs, blankets, strollers, and even wagons, ready to enjoy the evening. The park was filled with large groups who eagerly anticipated the feature movie Kung Fu Panda 4, which began at dusk.
The event was packed with activities to keep everyone entertained before the movie. A DJ played lively tunes, and one of the highlights of the evening was seeing both children and parents dancing together to “Gangnam Style” by South Korean musician PSY.
The joy on their faces was infectious as they moved to the catchy beat.
New this year was a photo booth. Long lines of people waited to make funny faces, strike creative poses, and take home memorable photos. It was all part of the fun and added to the community spirit of the event.
Volunteers, with their creative flair, offered face painting services to eager children. The line was long, but the results were worth the wait, with many happy kids showing off their new designs. BIA staff and volunteers also set up a booth selling small treats like chips, Cheezies and Twizzlers. Because, what’s a movie outing without a bit of sugar?
The Grill Fathers Suya Village mobile food truck was on hand, serving up delicious burgers, hot dogs, sausages, fries, and cold drinks. And no summer evening would be complete without a traditional ice cream truck offering soft ice cream, sundaes, and Freezies.
Children also enjoyed a bouncy castle, where they played to their hearts’ content. The fun continued until dusk when the movie began at 9 p.m.
MPP Tom Rakocevic made an appearance, greeting moviegoers and handing out some fancy swag, while his team answered residents’ questions. A special shout-out to Tom’s mom, whose glowing smile added to the evening’s warmth.
Sandra Farina, Executive Director of the Emery Village BIA, expressed her heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this year’s summer Movie in the Park events a success. She extended a warm invitation to everyone for next year and wished all attendees a safe and happy rest of the summer.
Lanyard Park, with its majestic trees and excellent outdoor gym facilities, proved to be a perfect spot for a community gathering. It’s a beautiful place in Emery Village.
