Several hundred people packed into Folsom’s Steve Miklos Aquatic Center on Saturday evening for a unique night of family fun that kept people cool and entertained. It was the annual Folsom Family Movie Night, a free event presented by the Folsom Parks and Recreation Department, offering swimming and a movie beneath the stars.
With Saturday’s temperatures climbing into the triple digits in the afternoon and extending into the early evening hours, the event was the perfect way for families to cool off. They got to plunge and play in all of the facilities’ pools for no charge after 6:30 p.m. All of the amenities were in use just after the gates opened, including different pools, diving boards, water slides, and Folsom’s spectacular play structure that always keeps everyone cool with its water sprays, bucket dump, and more.
Hundreds of children splashed around excitedly throughout the evening, while parents relaxed and socialized, thanks to the many diligent lifeguards on hand, keeping an eye on everyone to ensure a safe and fun event. The event also offered a variety of food options, with Chick-fil-A serving up some of its favorites for hungry swimmers, Pizza Guys dishing out a variety of pizzas, and Cia di Gelateria offering a popular booth with cool and tasty gelato. Other local businesses, including Folsom’s Coder School, Safe Credit Union, Dave and Buster’s, EQ1 Real Estate, and others, were also on hand. Folsom Times’ community crew participated as well, providing personal fans and other items to guests to help them keep cool and have fun.
As the clock approached 8:30 p.m., the focus shifted to the outdoor movie screening. Attendees, who had brought their own picnic blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks, settled down on the grassy area surrounding the screening area. The movie, “Elemental,” began on the large screen erected for the event just as twilight enveloped the sky, providing a perfect backdrop for the film.
While the final count wasn’t completed before the end of the night, Folsom Parks and Recreation officials were pleased with the turnout, estimated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 700-800 guests or more.
“This was a great turnout,” said Frankie Nelson, Senior Recreation Coordinator for the City of Folsom. “It seemed much bigger than last year and everyone is really having a great time.”
The evening was made possible through the generous support of community partners and sponsors, reflecting a collaborative effort that was crucial in organizing and executing the successful event.
“We’d like to thank Kaiser Permanente Folsom, Dave & Buster’s Folsom, Pizza Guys Folsom, Rondo & Nate Real Estate, EQ1 Real Estate, Folsom Times, and all our department partners for making tonight a huge success,” Folsom Parks and Recreation posted on their social media at the end of the night. They also urged those who attended and may have taken photos to share them by tagging them with the hashtag #FPRFamilyMovieNight. “You could be included in a future post.”
For those who missed out, the aquatic center’s summer season continues with daily recreation swim from 1 to 5 p.m. through September 2. Guests can enjoy all the great amenities: the interactive play structure, two-story water slide, diving boards, three pools, and the giant inflatable obstacle courses. The trained lifeguarding staff is always on duty during recreation swim. For more information, visit www.folsom.ca.us.
