Only two days before Summer Fest kicks off at the Dietrich!
I just love that we have four festivals in a year now. Otherwise we would miss so many of the great foreign, independent and art films out there. And actually, many of the best films I have seen have been featured in the theater’s festivals, such as “The Imitation Game,” “45 Years,” “The Theory of Everything” and more.
During Summer Fest, I am really looking forward to viewing “Eye in the Sky” with the incomparable Helen Mirren, “Dough,” “Hello, My Name is Doris” (I love Sally Fields), “Love and Friendship,” based on a Jane Austen novel, “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” “Dark Horse,” “The Meddler,” starring another favorite actress of mine, Susan Sarandon, “Sing Street” and “Sweet Bean.”
What movies are on your list to see? For a full listing of festival movies, synopses and show times, visit dietrichtheater.com.
We will start out Summer Fest with an opening night event Friday, July 15. There is still time to gather up your friends and reserve tickets for an evening of wine, beer, cheese and crackers, popcorn, two films and the Dietrich’s signature strawberry shortcake dessert. We will be featuring the humorous period piece, “Love and Friendship” and “Dark Horse,” a true story about a horse and its owners that inspired a nation, that night. Tickets are $25 each and can be reserved by calling 570-996-1500. You can’t beat that for a full evening out!
After 14 days of 14 films, we invite you to join us for a post-festival discussion. Find out what others thought of the movies you have seen and share your views. I always enjoy these discussions, because attendees have so many different perspectives on the festival films and the discussion is casual enough that everyone feels comfortable to share their viewpoints. The post-festival discussion will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 29. No need to register – just show up.
In addition to great films, in less than two weeks, Tunkhannock will present its 12th Annual River Day from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 23. Come out for a beautiful day at scenic Riverside Park, which will be filled with live music, activities for children, nature presentations and displays, a River Float, delicious food and more.
Live entertainment will include music by Jessica Illuzi, Sadie Green Sales Jugband, Coal Town Rounders, amRadio and the Airport Pickers.
The Endless Mountains Nature Center will have live animals up close for you to meet and learn about as well as a story walk. Rick Koval will be giving a presentation, “Snakes of Pennsylvania,” at 1 p.m. Local bird expert Joe DeMarco will share his knowledge about birds that live along the Susquehanna at 2:15 p.m. River Critters will be explored by Bob Daniels at 3:30 p.m. There will also be free face painting from 3 to 6 p.m. Dietrich Theater artists-in-residence Amy and Steve Colley will have a mural for children to paint from 3 to 6 p.m.
Environmental and area displays and activities will be offered by Friends of Howland Preserve, the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and Endless Mountains Nature Center.
You can sign up for River Floats by contacting Endless Mountain Outfitters at 570-746-9140 or Susquehanna Kayak and Canoe Rentals at 570-388-6107.
There will be ice cream, BBQ, iced coffee, brick oven pizza, Jamaican food and more.
Admission to River Day is free, thanks to the Overlook Estate Foundation. For more information about River Day, call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500.
As you can see, the Dietrich is so much more than the movies!
