Movie in the Park returns to West Wetlands Saturday

Autumn is here and in the desert Southwest, this spectacular season brings plenty of opportunities to get out and have some fun at a public park. The city of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department and Bill Alexander Flight-Line Mazda/Mitsubishi are proud to bring a night the entire family can enjoy. Movie in the Park returns at 7 p.m. Saturday on the lawn of West Wetlands Park.

Come early with family, friends and neighbors, and play on one of the largest outdoor community-built playgrounds in the country, the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground built in 2007, as a prelude to DreamWorks Pictures “How to Train Your Dragon.”

“How to Train Your Dragon” is a 2010 American computer-animated comedy-drama fantasy film by DreamWorks Animation, loosely based on the English 2003 book of the same name. The film was directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the duo who directed Disney's “Lilo and Stitch.” It stars the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and David Tennant.

The story takes place in a mythical Viking world where a young Viking youth named Hiccup aspires to follow his tribe's tradition of becoming a dragon slayer. After finally capturing his first dragon, and with his chance at finally gaining the tribe's acceptance, he finds that he no longer has the desire to kill it, and instead befriends it. “How to Train Your Dragon,” will keep you completely focused every second it's on the screen. This is a film you will not want to miss!

Debbie Wendt, recreation superintendent for the city of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department, says, “The Movie in the Park events are incredibly fun and we are excited to organize another family friendly event, free to the community. Due to the support from Bill Alexander Flight-Line Mazda/Mitsubishi of our ‘Movie in the Park' events, we have been able to offer this event at no charge again this fall.”

Autumn in Yuma has the most beautiful of days and evenings. Wendt says, “People can be seen walking, exercising, playing games and enjoying playgrounds at parks all throughout the city and especially here at West Wetlands Park.” The temperature is projected to be 80 degrees on Saturday, so call all your friends and family and plan a fun movie night in the park.

In today's fast-paced world of endless information, hundreds of channels to watch on TV, pocket computers, cell phones and iPads, it is so very difficult to get away as we are plugged into the grid that captures our thoughts, time and feelings of having to be connected. It's hard to get back to the simple things in life.

Here's a healthy suggestion: Take a night off. Unplug the smartphone, iPad and notebook. Disconnect from Twitter, Google and Facebook. Remember taking the station wagon, packed with the kids, dropping the tailgate and watching the movie on a monster screen? Here's your opportunity to go back in time. Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and bring your family out to an old-fashioned outdoor theater. Life presents itself with so few opportunities to enjoy the simple things in today's world, such as spending time together and making unforgettable family memories, which is so important.

Mark your calendars for 7 p.m. Saturday for Movie in the Park at West Wetlands Park. Movie start time is at dusk. Admission is free. Popcorn, water and soda will be available at the concessions, as who doesn't like a little popcorn with their movie! Don't miss out on the fantastic “How to Train Your Dragon,” sponsored by the city of Yuma Parks and Recreation and Bill Alexander Flight-Line Mazda/Mitsubishi.

Oscar Chavez is the recreation program supervisor at the city of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department. He can be reached at Oscar.Chavez@yumaaz.gov.