A group of local merchants is offering up a free night at the movies Friday, from the comfy confines of Iola’s downtown square.
The 1993 baseball classic “The Sandlot” will be shown on a 20-foot movie screen set up on the courthouse lawn.
“It’s an opportunity for us to give something back to the community,” said Gabe Gleason of Fillmore Coffeehouse and Plant Cafe, one of the organizers. Other sponsors are the Iola Pharmacy, Sonic Equipment, Emprise Bank and 110 Lounge and Event Center.
The festivities will begin at about 7:30, with complimentary popcorn and bottles of water, with vendor trailers from Red Beard BBQ and Simply Delicious, as well as Fillmore’s gelato cart.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or cozy blankets to set up their viewing spots. The movie begins at dusk.
The inaugural Movie Night coincides with Iola’s annual Sidewalk Sale, with downtown merchants setting up shop this weekend for assorted sales and specials Saturday morning, although Gleason has no intention of stopping with just one showing.
The plan is for monthly movie nights the first Friday of each month. The sole exception will be in September, when the movie is pushed back a week to Sept. 8 because Sept. 1 conflicts with Iola High School’s football home opener.
“We plan on doing this all year long,” Gleason added, with the proceedings moving indoors if the weather gets too cold.
