Cinema in the Sand
There are still four weeks left for Movie Night Mondays on the Beach at Hampton.
“Five hundred to 600 people come on a big night,” said Lisa Martineau, co-director of marketing for the Hampton Beach Village District. “We have had to get a bigger screen because it’s gotten so big.”
The movie nights even took place last summer when many other things weren’t happening.
“It was one of the events that we were able to hold because we could keep people socially distanced,” she said. “Movie nights were the event that people looked forward to last summer, especially since there were no fireworks. It was nice to have something for people to do during Covid.”
When you come for movie night, Martineau said, you should bring your own blanket and chairs, and show up early to get a good seat.
“We get almost as much attention for movie night as we do for fireworks,” she noted. “It has become such a popular thing to do.”
Monday Night Movies have taken place at Hampton for about 10 years.
“We were one of the first places to do an outdoor movie night,” said Martineau. “Doing it on the beach is so special, because it’s underneath the stars, waves crashing behind you, and it’s under the moonlight. It is a special environment.”
That environment draws people of all ages, she said, from grandparents to young kids. For the older generation, they may bring back some memories.
“They remind me of going to the drive-in theater as a kid,” said Martineau. “It is that same feeling of nostalgia, and it becomes a part of your story and history.”
Movie nights take place next to the playground at Hampton Beach, which is another draw for families.
“It was painted recently, and it looks fresh,” she said. “It’s great for younger kids who won’t sit still through the movie, and it is lit up at night.”
The beach itself, she added, is a big draw for movie nights, as many of the people who attend them are in town for a while and staying in nearby lodging.
“They love to come out and enjoy the movie and walk back to their cottages by the beach,” said Martineau.
In addition to the movie, other features of movie nights include a DVD giveaway of that evening’s movie. Movie Night Mondays on the Beach are sponsored by JB’s Seafood and Boardwalk Inn and Cafe.
“At JB’s Seafood, kids eat for free on movie night and they are given a bucket of popcorn to take with them to eat while watching the movie,” she added.
According to Martineau, Movie Night Mondays on the Beach underscore the popularity of Hampton Beach itself.
“We try to create memories with our events,” she said. “Those memories mean so much. Hampton is a lot of people’s happy place and special place. We’re trying to make that experience more enjoyable and to bring families together … and so many events are free.”
Movie Night Mondays on the Beach:
Admission is free. Movies start at dusk. Movie times listed below are only approximate. Weather permitting. Rain date is Tuesday. For up-to-date information, visit hamptonbeach.org/events/movies-on-the-beach.
Aug. 9 – Cats and Dogs 3: Paws Unite – 7:50 p.m.
Aug. 16 – Moana – 7:40 p.m.
Aug. 23 – Tom & Jerry – 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 – TBA – 7:20 p.m.
— Rob Levey
Photo credit: Hampton Beach.
