Movies in the Park returns this summer

Monroe County’s Movies in the Park returns for summer 2023 with a series of family-friendly movie screenings.

“Movies in the Park combines family movie night with outdoor fun in Monroe County’s spectacular parks,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “This is a special year to bring your family to the parks. To honor our veterans, Monroe County partnered with the Veterans Outreach Center to launch the Never Forget Rose Campaign. So bring your family and enjoy great movies, join in the scavenger hunt, and have fun exploring.”

Movies in the Park will run through September 1. All movies will begin at dusk, approximately a half hour after sunset. The event dates are as follows:
•The Greatest Game Ever Played – July 7 at Durand Eastman Golf Course
•Atlantis – July 21 at Ontario Beach Park
•Rookie of the Year – July 27 at Innovative Field
•Rogue One – August 11 at Highland Park
•Hook – August 18 at Mendon Ponds Park
•Raiders of the Lost Ark – September 1 at Black Creek Park

“We’re pleased to bring back our Movies in the Park program for another summer,” said Patrick Meredith, director Monroe County Parks. “This program is a great way to bring folks to the parks to enjoy some time outside with their families.”

County Executive Adam Bello, the Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) and the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency (VSA) announced in May the launch of the Never Forget Rose campaign in honor of the VOC’s 50th anniversary of service to our veterans. Residents can search for one of 450 handcrafted copper roses designed, created and donated by award-winning local metal artist Marc Gaiger at special events in most county parks throughout the summer.

The Never Forget Rose Campaign is presented by the West Herr Auto Group and gold sponsor Dale Carnegie of Northeast and New England.

Each rose has a numbered tag with a URL and QR Code. The number is linked to a local veteran who served our country with distinction and paid the ultimate price for their service. The finder of each rose can enter their rose number at monroecounty.gov/never-forget to locate the name of their veteran and which memorial bears that veteran’s name. Fifty of the 450 copper roses are tinted red for the 50th anniversary of VOC. Finders of the red roses are invited to carry their rose in the county’s second annual Veteran’s Day Parade on November 12, 2023.

“The importance of this campaign cannot be understated. America’s greatest gift is the Gold Star Family,” said Nick Stefanovic, director Monroe County Veterans Services. “We have many here in Monroe County. We can see the names of their children written on the rose tags and hence inscribed in our memorials. Through innovation, creativity, and generosity Monroe County has found a way to facilitate the education of our citizens about the sacrifice that these families have made for this country. We can use this as an opportunity to learn about who these service members were in life. As a Marine Corps veteran of the war in Afghanistan and the director of the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency, I am thankful to County Executive Adam Bello, director of the Monroe County parks department Pat Meredith, and owner of the Rochester Red Wings Naomi Silver for partnering to support this initiative by making it a part of Movies in the Park.”

Prior to each movie showing there will be a scavenger hunt where attendees will have an opportunity to find the roses. For the movie screening at Innovative Field, the first 45 families will receive a rose as they enter.

For more information, visit http://monroecounty.gov.

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