News Flash

COOKEVILLE – Friday nights in July are flickering to life with free movies at the Cookeville Depot Museum.

Depot Summer Cinema, presented by the City of Cookeville Department of Leisure Services, starts July 13 with the 1985 time travel adventure “Back to the Future" at 116 W. Broad St. (rescheduled from July 6 due to the weather.)

“This highly anticipated classic movie series is attended by several hundred people each year,” Beth Thompson, Cookeville museums manager, said. “Families love to stretch out on a blanket or sit in their lawn chairs and munch popcorn and sip cold drinks while enjoying a free classic movie they probably haven’t seen in years.”

Each evening has a different theme – Big Kids’ Night, Christmas in July and Sing-Along Night.

“For Big Kids’ Night, we try to select a 1980s hit (“Back to the Future”) that appeals to the big kids among us,” Thompson said.

Christmas in July will be celebrated July 20 with 1964’s “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.”

“These old, unintentionally hilarious sci-fi films have become a mainstay of the Summer Cinema lineup,” Thompson said. “They’re definitely a crowd favorite.”

The series wraps up July 27 with Sing-Along Night, featuring 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz.”

What attracts people to movies at the depot?

“It’s that wonderful nostalgic feeling of being outside under the stars while watching a favorite film – similar to the feel of a drive-in theater,” Thompson said.

Popcorn and drinks will be available for $1 each.

For more information about summer movies at Dogwood Park and the Cookeville Depot Museum, call Cookeville Leisure Services at 931-520-4386.