Movies and more in Uptown Village

Files/Warner Bros. Pictures Vancouver’s Uptown Movie Nights will feature “Speed Racer” tonight.

Vancouver’s Uptown Movie Nights will feature “Speed Racer,” on Friday. (Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT)

Vancouver's Uptown Village is multiplying the fun of going to one of its neighborhood outdoor movies.

Organizers are combining the free movie nights with Craft in the Village and First Fridays in the Village on the first Friday of the month through the summer. In past years, the movies were shown the last two Saturdays in July and the first two in August.

With this change, visitors to Uptown Village can peruse sidewalk sales, explore locally made arts and crafts, take in a free concert and end the evening by watching a family-friendly movie outdoors.

By combining the events, Uptown Movie Nights can take advantage of foot traffic, said Amy McFall Prince, a former Columbian reporter who is now one of the movie night organizers.

"I think people will say, 'Wow, we didn't know we could stay and watch a movie for free.' It brings out a lot of people from the nearby neighborhood and other parts of the town."

The combining of events may also help attract some additional volunteers. "We have to get permits and pay for the movie rights. It takes some effort," McFall Prince said.

Organizers will sell candy, soda and popcorn as the main fundraiser to support the evening of entertainment. Neighborhood restaurants will be open to offer pizza, sandwiches, ice cream and coffee.

Chris Stevens, owner of Northwest Shirts and founder of Craft in the Village, is enthusiastic about adding the movies and music to the mix of events on first Fridays.

"I think it's great," Stevens said. "That's much more of an added draw to bring people in."

Craft in the Village, which features local arts and crafts as well as live music, runs from 4 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of the month from May to September in a lot next to One World Merchants at 2315 Main St.

Craft in the Village is held at the same time as First Fridays in the Village, which includes retailers along Main Street.

"The merchants participate by bringing in their own artists to set up in front of their stores or by having sales or their own in-store events," Stevens said.

McFall Prince said the free movies in Uptown Village in past years have drawn 200 to 300 people. Most attendees are from the neighborhood and surrounding areas, but some come from as far as Portland.

What: Uptown Movie Nights
When: Live music starts at about 7:30 p.m. with the movie following at 8:45 p.m on the first Friday of the month through September. Entertainment schedule: Tonight, concert by Jen, Deborah and Kristen, followed by "Speed Racer" (PG); Aug. 7, concert by The Red Spades, followed by "The Muppets Take Manhattan" (G); Sept. 4, concert by The New Jangles, followed by "Raising Arizona" (PG-13). Viewers should bring blankets or low-back chairs.
Where: 23rd and Main streets in Vancouver's Uptown Village. Movies are projected on the south side of the LSW Architects building.
Cost: Free.
Information: uptownmovies.com.