Saratoga to Present 2013 Movie Night Series

The Saratoga City Council has approved this year's Movie Night Series after members of the Parks and Recreation Commission presented a proposal to show three fun flicks in June, July and August.

The Council agreed to fund the series to the tune of $3,600, which will pay for the rental of the outdoor movie equipment.

At the Jan. 8 commission meeting, it was recommended that the family friendly movies be shown at 7:30 p.m. June 21, July 19 and Aug. 16 at Wildwood Park, 20764 4th St.

The commission also suggested working with the Saratoga Village Development Council to find ways to give movie attendees incentives to visit Village restaurants and stores before the movies begin.

The group also recommended working with the Saratoga Youth Commission to recommend the movies to show and to pass out popcorn to movie attendees, according to a staff report.

The city should rent the movie equipment this year until it can grow the event to justify purchasing a screen, projector and speakers, the commission advised.

Each movie night costs the city $600. The nearby cities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos and Mountain View have outdoor movie nights in the summer and most own their equipment, the report said.

Campbell, for example, shows 10 movies each Friday starting the last week of June through August. Cupertino shows four on Thursdays in August. The cities of Los Altos and Mountain View each show three and six Friday movies, respectively, the report showed.