“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” to be screened

Movies in the Park returns to Denison on Saturday with a showing of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” at Washington Park.

“I usually stay away from the more recent movies because people have seen them recently, but ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ is so good,” said Jennifer Smith, who is the lead organizer of the event.

“It really speaks to anybody who is three years old to about 70 who grew up around Nintendo. It really reaches across generations, so everybody can be a part of it.”

The animated movie was released on April 5 of this year, and went on to earn $1.36 billion dollars on a $100 million budget.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” stars Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black and many others in voice roles.

As sponsor of the September Movies in the Park event, Broadway Dental will cover the licensing fee for the film, which was $480.

“They are third-year sponsors for our movie night and we love having them be part of the festivities,” Smith said.

She noted that the licensing fees started at $435 two years ago and have steadily increased.

“I don’t know if that’s a product of Corona or what, because it does not seem to be tied to the quality of the movie or the recency of the movie,” Smith said. “If we didn’t have sponsors, we probably wouldn’t be able to have these events.”

She noted that “The Little Mermaid” was her first choice for the August Movies in the Park to go along with the event’s water theme.

“It ended up they (Swank Motion Pictures) were not able to acquire the licensing rights in time,” Smith said. “Maybe that will be for next year.”

The Movies in the Park event begins with activities at Washington Park beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday.

“We are going to have bouncy houses set up, corn hole and other games,” Smith said. “The school has soccer nets there, and that’s been really popular for the kids to play when they’re there.”

A variety of food and drinks will be for sale.

“Taqueria La Tapatia Taquizas, the blue taco truck, will be there,” Smith said. “They’ve been part of our events three years in a row. They have amazing food. Bakers on Broadway will be providing desserts for the second time and we’re appreciative to have them back.”

Denison Parks & Rec and the Crawford County Cattlemen’s Association have joined forces to sell hamburgers and chips as a fundraiser for a new playground to replace the recently-demolished Kids Kastle at Washington Park.

“They’re ready to serve about 100 burgers,” she said. “I’m sure my family will have about 10 of those.”

Smith said she would like to see more causes/benefit activities added to future Movies in the Park nights.

“We’ve tried to stay away from making it about money, but when you have groups that are able to do something like the Cattlemen and Parks & Rec Commission members are going to do, I think those kinds of things can go a long way by sending a positive message,” she said.

Parks & Rec will also sell popcorn, nachos and other snacks on Saturday.

The movie will start at dark, which is about 7:30 p.m.

“Hopefully, with it starting a little bit earlier, that can help out parents with little ones,” Smith said.

The final 2023 Movies in the Park event will take place on October 28 with the annual Día de los Muertos and Halloween Party.

“As soon as this movie is over, I will start to actively solicit a list of participants for that - and it doesn’t take long to fill up,” Smith said.

More than 50 businesses took part last year by setting up trick or treat stations at the park.

“A really good thing about this community is when there are things to do, things born out of an intent to do good, people recognize that and they step up to lend a hand,” she said.

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