Movies in the Park is coming to Buellton’s River View Park.
The Buellton City Council on Thursday approved a $5,870 funding request from the nonprofit Solvang Cinema Arts and Elizabeth Orona, a Solvang council member and Solvang Cinema Arts founding director.
Those funds will support a showing of “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” — commonly known simply as “E.T.” — on Aug. 28.
The goal is to bring back a community movie-viewing experience to the Santa Ynez Valley, after Buellton’s theater closed in 2020, according to Orona.
“Our mission is to bring movie night back to the valley and make it a valley community-sustained entity,” Orona said.
The event will be family-oriented and space-themed to coincide with the film and a potential co-sponsorship with Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The event also will be sponsored by Visit Santa Ynez Valley and Jonata Ranch. The nonprofit organization is fiscally sponsored by the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Organizers hope to bring in 250 attendees. Gourmet meals will be served from a cookout truck, as well as other concessions such as ice cream.
Paid reservations of around $7 will be required to for the meals.
According to community surveys conducted by Solvang Cinema Arts, 97% of respondents stated they would visit a theater that was the “right size” for the community.
Ninety-two percent of respondents also said the distance of existing theaters prevented them from filmgoing experiences, and 86% said they would support a community-sustained film entity.
Orona said the nonprofit organization is in the process of looking for a permanent place of residence.
Orona also said the event will serve as an economic driver for the community and help improve adolescent mental health.
Vice Mayor Carla Mead expressed skepticism. Mead called the event “incredibly ambitious” and asked if anyone on the board had experience with putting on a large-scale nonprofit event.
Orona pointed toward film producer and founder of Key West Film Festival Brooke Christian, who is on the board of Solvang Cinema Arts and is responsible for securing film licenses.
The council approved the funding request 4-1, with Mead dissenting.
