By MATT PIKE
The Canned Film Festival has been going for nearly a month now at Regal Hollywood Theatres in St. Joseph, presented by K Jo 105.5.
The summer movie experience runs through August while kids are out of school, giving families a chance to come and see a movie and get out of the summer heat, admission only costing a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank.
General Manager of Regal Hollywood Theatre Mike Glores says the Canned Film Festival has been happening for 21 years now since Regal the theatre in the North Village Shoppes opened in 2005.
Glore says thus far this year, attendance to the movies has gone well with the largest days bringing 259 people to the theatre for the films.
"Which when I think about it is less per day, but nowadays this particular year we are doing Monday through Thursday at 11am, instead of our normal Tuesday and Wednesday's," Glore tells K Jo 105.5's Sam Starr. "So, we're doing twice as many days, it gives everybody more opportunity to come out, and it is spreading the crowd over those four days so its still over half full auditoriums we're seeing, and I expect it to climb."
The film festival is also going longer this year. In past years the event has gone nine weeks, but this year Glore says it will go 11 weeks.
"We continue on until just before school starts, so everybody's got an opportunity to fill their entire summer with these movies and hopefully fill some pantries with some canned food," Glore explains.
Admission to the films Monday through Thursday is only a nonperishable food item to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank, or a $1 admission ticket. Glore encourages everyone who comes to get there before 10am to be able to get in, but also for fun activities.
"Mosaic has health and fitness related activities, they're always doing something special in our lobby," Glore says. "They are here Tuesday's and Wednesdays and they will be there some other days as well but since we extended that that kind of put a little kink in their schedule of coming out, but they're always doing fun things with the kids."
Glore says Mosaic Life Care has quiz health questions for people and giveaways and will also bring out the popular bike blender during the event, where kids will make salsa or a smoothie with the device.
You can find a full schedule of movies below or on the K Jo 105.5 Facebook page of what will be showing during the Canned Film Festival.
Interview
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.