11th annual Movies in the Park series to return this summer

For the 11th time in event history, Yelm Lions Club will roll out the big screen at Longmire Park and welcome community members to participate in the six-week “Movies in the Park” series, which kicks off on Saturday, June 28, at 9:30 p.m with a showing of “Mrs. Doubtfire.”

Christy Garcia, Yelm Lions Club board member and one of several event organizers, said prior to the 9:30 p.m. showing of the PG-13 rated “Mrs. Doubtfire,” vendors and non-profit organizations will have the opportunity to set up booths and host family-friendly games for Movies in the Park attendees to enjoy before the action starts on the big screen.

The entire Movies in the Park series will be located at Longmire Park, and the lineup of showings will include:

• ”Mrs. Doubtfire” (PG-13), 125 minutes long, at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 28
• ”Trolls Band Together” (PG), 91 minutes long, at 9:25 p.m. on Saturday, July 12
• ”Matilda” (PG), 102 minutes long, at 9:10 p.m. on Saturday, July 26
• ”Moana 2” (PG), 100 minutes long, at 8:50 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9
• ”Wicked” (PG), 160 minutes long, at 8:25 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13

“We’re really excited about this year’s lineup,” Garcia said. “We’re especially excited this year because every year we talk with community businesses about sponsorships for movies in the park that helps with licensing and concession costs, costs for kids activities out on the field prior to the movies. We’ve gotten a fabulous turnout from sponsors this year.”

She added that each sponsor can donate at different levels and noted 2025 has been one of the organization’s “best years of turnout with community sponsors.” Each sponsor that donates will be highlighted on Facebook, and any organization that donates over $500 will have the opportunity to play a 30-second commercial prior to movie showings.

“We’re excited about the movies. We’ve got all the concessions set and all of that, and we’ve got a fantastic turnout from community businesses. The one area that doesn’t feel as strong this year — we would like to have community businesses or nonprofits, before the movie starts, come and be vendors,” Garcia said. “We’ve got a much lower turnout of vendors this year, and it might not work out to have vendors. But we want to show that vendor spots are available, and to please reach out if they’d like more information about that.”

Garcia and event organizers are hoping to create an environment for community members to enjoy Saturday evenings this summer, as Yelm Lions Club would love to welcome vendors and nonprofits to the event at 5 p.m. for family-friendly activities to participate in prior to the movie’s start.

She noted that a local Boy Scouts troop will be in attendance to host several activities, and that the Outpost Church is likely to host events as well.

According to Garcia, Yelm Timberland Library is also going to be at the Movies in the Park series, and will serve as event co-hosts this summer.

“Big huge kudos to the Yelm Timberland Library. We are so excited to have them on board as a community partner,” Garcia said.

The board member said Yelm Timberland Library is helping assist with licensing fees for this summer’s movie lineup and helping make it possible for Yelm Lions Club to use existing funds to replace and repair equipment that’s gotten older and more worn over the last 11 years.

In addition to the new partnership with the library, Garcia also highlighted a new Yelm Lions Club member, Griselda Arias, who has been making a huge difference in efforts of organizing and hosting the Movies in the Park series.

“Griselda Arias has been instrumental in posting on social media and updating our website, and it’s been good for her as a new member to see how much the community supports Movies in the Park,” Garcia said. “She is a strong community member, and we are so glad that we have her on our team. She’s very skilled. She’s fantastic.”

The Yelm Lions Club is seeking volunteers to help in the concessions stand during the Movies in the Park series. For more information about becoming involved this summer, contact Garcia at 360-480-9126 or via email at ladybug_liker@hotmail.com.

“This event warms our hearts, 100%,” Garcia said. “It went from an event that we would try once to see how the community would respond to it 11 years ago, to now being a community favorite. Everyone asks about it every summer, and this year, Griselda held a poll on social media and the community voted on the movies they wanted to play. The community loves it, and we’ve been able to involve them more this year in the planning of it.”

Garcia noted that local businesses sponsoring the summer series are Tim’s Pharmacy, Yelm Family Medicine, T&P Automotive, Olympia Federal Savings, Timberland Bank, Anytime Fitness, Wilcox Farms, Steele Barrel BBQ, Twin Star Credit Union, Whitewater Orthodontics, Yelm Veterinary Hospital, PTL Hardwood Floors, J&I Power Equipment Inc., Jason’s Greenhouse, Yelm Farm and Pet, and Funtime Toys.

Garcia added that in kind sponsors this year include Living Water Yelm and the City of Yelm, while the Yelm Timberland Library is a “Key Community Partner.” Garcia and event organizers also wanted to thank Yelm’s Outpost Church and Boy Scouts Troop 268 for being instrumental with setting up and tearing down the outdoor movie theater after each event.