Halloween Movie Night Screenings in Newport will Please Both Kids and Grownups

After two weeks of voting, the results are in and the Halloween-themed movies that Newporters want to see at the second annual People’s Credit Union Halloween Movie Night at Ballard Park have been decided.

The winners are: Hotel Transylvania and Young Frankenstein.

The event, scheduled for Sat. Oct. 17, includes screenings of both films along with a costume parade, contest, meet and greet with members of the Newport Fire Department and a daffodil giveaway by Newport Daffodillion.

The free event begins at 5 p.m. when the quarry meadow opens.

From Friends of Ballard Park:

A costume parade for children will be held at 5:30 pm. Celebrity judges who include Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, Mayor Jeanne Marie Napolitano, Councilor Kate Leonard, Newport People’s Credit Union Newport Branch Manager Marie Everett and members of the Newport Fire Department will award prizes from The Newport Sweet Shoppe in several categories including cutest costume, scariest costume and most original. Event sponsors include Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, Joseph R. Paolino, Jr. and Bartlett Tree Experts. Co-sponsors are McGrath Clambakes, Inc., IAFF Newport 1080, Newport FOP Lodge #8, Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty, IHOP, Smith Horticulture, the Campaign to Re-Elect Kate Leonard, The Newport Sweet Shoppe and Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival.

At 6 pm, Friends of Ballard Park will screen Hotel Transylvania. Rated PG with a running time of 91 minutes, Hotel Transylvania is an animated comedy featuring Dracula’s lavish “five-stake” resort where monsters and their families can live it up free from meddling humans. Over-protective of his teenage daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez), Dracula (Adam Sandler) fabricates tales of elaborate dangers to dissuade her adventurous spirit. As a haven for Mavis, he opens the Hotel Transylvania, where his daughter and some of the world’s most famous monsters can kick back in safety and peace. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.

After a brief intermission to allow little ones time to leave, the 1974 classic Young Frankenstein will be screened.

The black and white classic features respected medical lecturer Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) who learns that he has inherited his infamous grandfather’s estate in Transylvania. Arriving at the castle, Dr. Frankenstein soon begins to recreate his grandfather’s experiments with the help of servants Igor (Marty Feldman), Inga (Teri Garr) and the fearsome Frau Blücher (Cloris Leachman). After he creates his own monster (Peter Boyle), new complications ensue with the arrival of the doctor’s fiancée, Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn). The film is Rated PG and the running time is 106 minutes.

A short provided by FLICKERS Rhode Island Film Festival will be screened before each of the films. FLICKERS RIFF is an Oscar qualifying festival for shorts. Its VORTEX Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Film Festival runs from October 19-25th.

All of the free festivities will take place in Ballard Park’s quarry meadow which is best accessed through the Hazard Road entrance (use 1 Ocean Heights Road for GPS directions, the entrance is across the street). In the event of rain, movies will be shown on October 24th.

Those interested in attending should wear sturdy shoes as there is rugged terrain and bring a flashlight to use upon exiting. Parking is available along Hazard Road. Please note smoking is prohibited in Ballard Park. Picnic dinners are welcome.

Friends of Ballard Park is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, maintaining and promoting Newport’s Only Nature Preserve. Cultural events and educational programming help to advance stewardship of the park and decrease negative park activities.

Visit www.ballardpark.org or call 619.3377 for more information.

PHOTO: The 2nd Annual People’s Credit Union’s Halloween Movie Night will be held on Saturday, October 17th at Ballard Park. Photos by Jennifer Carter.