Sunset on the Square 2015 Season Kick Off Celebration
Southern Utah’s first outdoor summer movie series to feature the largest
Season Kick-Off event in its 7 year history!
With more than 300 days of sunshine in Southern Utah, there are plenty of reasons to get out there and enjoy your day! For 7 years now, there have been even more reasons to get out there and enjoy St. George under the night sky too. Sunset on the Square (SOTS) has become a staple for locals during the summer months. The Friday night FREE family movie series plays on a giant outdoor movie screen and is hosted by Write It Up! in partnership with the City of St. George. Led by Dawn McLain, the series has become known for its family friendly fun, prizes, movies and so much more. Town Square hosts the event on the second and fourth Friday of each month May 22nd through August 28th in the City of St. George. SOTS has been a huge success averaging 1500 – 2000 attendees per event, with additional attendees on special event nights.
The first special event of the season will be the Season Kick Off Celebration with Cherry Creek Radio, Girls on the Run and Bike In Downtown. The May 22 launch will be an extra special event this year as event partner and premier sponsor Cherry Creek Radio will present the Stephen Wade Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Country Showdown before the first movie this year. The Country Showdown is America’s largest Country music talent show. It’s designed to find the most promising country music talent in the nation and to give these performers a chance to launch their professional music careers. The Country Showdown begins each spring with over 450 local talent contests sponsored by country music radio stations throughout the US. Winners advance to their respective State competitions held at leading fairs and venues. Acts then compete for a $1,000 prize, the State Title and the opportunity to advance to one of five Regional Finals. It’s the last step before the prestigious, televised National Final. The audience cheers on the Regional Winners, as they compete for the Grand Prize of $100,000 and the title of “Best New Act in Country Music.” Once again the Sunset on the Square team is so pleased to bring this spectacular event as part of the Sunset on the Square Season Kick Off Celebration. The local event is presented by Big Kickin’ Country 107.3FM & Big Classic Country 97.7FM of Cherry Creek Radio and will include a LIVE Remote. Says James English, General Sales Manager of Cherry Creek Radio, “This is a great opportunity to launch a career in country music for one of the many very talented local signers here in our area. Being part of the season kick-off for Sunset on the Square is a great way to partner with local businesses and to showcase the contestants in one the City’s best parks. The show is free to the public to attend, and we’d like to encourage everyone to come on out to cheer on our singers, enjoy the entertainment and have a great time.” For more information about performing at the Country Showdown visit Cherry Creek Radio’s Big Kickin’ Country Website at: http://bigkickincountry.com/.
This year there are many great movies and special events scheduled. “I tell people, if you haven’t been to Sunset on the Square yet – you really need to go, I see attendees throughout the year and they are always checking in to see when the season will start so they won’t miss any of them!” explained Dawn McLain, Write It Up! owner and SOTS Event Coordinator. “Our kick-off event will also feature the movie Big Hero 6 after the Country Showdown. This year we will also be featuring the first Girls on the Run 5K, which we are very excited about.”
Girls on the Run of Southern Utah is part of the National Girls on the Run (GOTR)nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Locally the organization is led by Executive Director Melissa Miller. GOTR launched during the spring semester in Washington County School District this year. Locally the organization supports the efforts and goals in which they envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. Says Miller, “We believe that every girl can embrace who she is, can define who she wants to be, can rise to any challenge, and can change the world. We are excited to share our message with the St. George Community at Sunset on the Square.” For the charitable organization this will be a celebratory run, says Miller, “To honor our girls and how hard they worked to meet their goals this year and making memories and new friends that will last a lifetime.” Packet pick up will be on site at 2:30 p.m. May 22, 2015; race time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. For more information on how you can be a part of the Girls OnThe Run 1st Annual 5K Celebration Run visit www.gotrsouthernutah.org.
During the Kick Off event the City of St. George will also be featuring a new program launching in recognition of and in conjunction with National Bike Month (May). The program is called Bike In Downtown is a partnership with the City of St. George, St. George Active Transportation Committee and the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance. Bike In Downtown will provide FREE bike valet service to all residents who bike in for the evening’s festivities. Once cyclists check in they will receive exclusive downtown coupons! The program and partnership with Sunset on the Square to encourage more residents to use bicycles not only as a recreation activity but as a way to:
- Reduce pollution
- Reduce traffic congestion
- Minimize wear and tear on roads
- Be healthy
- Socialize
Marc M. Mortensen, Manager of Support Services for the City of St. George said they expect to see 100 or more cyclists during the event. For more information about Bike In Downtown at Sunset on the Square visit: https://sgcity.org/activetransportation/.
Other special events this season will include:
June 26 – Nonprofit Night: Discounts & spotlight for nonprofit organizations to help promote their mission and vital programs and services they provide in our communities.
July 24 – Pioneer Day Celebration: Pre-movie events will include the Pioneer Day Games, a family field day style program with prizes, LOTS of fun and something for everyone from toddlers to seniors! After the movie, the City of St. George will host a fireworks show at Town Square Park.
August 28 – Chamber Night: Our Grand Finale of the season will be the St. George Chamber Night. Chamber members receive special rates for booths, and recognition of their efforts to build and support local businesses.
This season’s movie schedule includes:
May 22 Big Hero 6 PG 93 min.
June 12 Mr. Peabody and Sherman PG 92 min.
June 26 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory G 98 min.
July 10 Lego Movie PG 100 min
July 24 Three Amigos PG 103 min.
August 14 Wreck it Ralph PG 108 min.
August 28 Legend of Zorro PG 136 min.
Please save the date to join the Sunset on the Square team at Town Square Park, every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month starting May 22 thru the end of August 28, 2015. Come early to enjoy the park and carousel and to make sure you get the best seats in the house. The fun will start early for the Kick Off Celebration, so be sure to join us at 4:00 p.m. After the Girls on the Run 5K, and Cherry Creek radio Country Showdown enjoy plenty of food, vendors and fun including the Dealer Collision Water Balloon Challenge and conga lines, hokey pokey games, prizes, splash pad, face painting, lots of activates and more led by event Master of Ceremonies, Dawn McLain.
Sunset on the Square is proudly sponsored by KCSG Television, Sonny Boys BBQ, Girls On the Run, Cherry Creek Radio, The Independent, Family & Kids Magazine, View on Southern Utah Magazine, Utah Public Radio, The City of St. George, Write It Up!, Williams Services, The Dixie Elks Lodge, Stephen Wade Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Dealer Collision Center, Sonny Boy’s BBQ, Farmers Insurance, and Steven’s Henagar College.
About The Author
Dawn McLain, Write It Up!
Write It Up! is a small, full service advertising agency based in Southern Utah. Since 1994, our team has focused our efforts on nonprofit organizations and small for profit businesses in need of strategic marketing and public relations planning, development and implementation.
Phone: 702-860-2341
Email: dawn@writeituponline.com