‘NeverEnding Story’ is the next movie in the park

“The NeverEnding Story comes to Chowchilla’s Movies in the Park.

The City of Chowchilla hosts free movies at Veterans Memorial Park on Robertson Boulevard every Friday night. This coming Friday will feature the film classic “The NeverEnding Story.”

The park is at Robertson and 6th Street in downtown Chowchilla. Showtime starts at sunset, about 8:45 p.m.

“Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, sleeping bags and enjoy a fun night watching an outdoor movie on the big inflatable screen with full sound filling the park,” said Chowchilla’s information officer, D. Martin Piepenbrok, who also said community groups will be selling refreshments at each of the movie nights.

In “The NeverEnding Story,” Bastian is a young boy who lives a dreary life being tormented by school bullies. On one such occasion, he escapes into a book shop where the old proprietor reveals an ancient story book to him, which he is warned can be dangerous.

Shortly after, he “borrows” the book and begins to read it in the school

attic. He is drawn into the mythical land of Fantasia as he follows the adventures of a boy who is everything he believes he is not: brave, strong, successful. He begins to understand that he is a part of the story and that the survival of the world about which he has been reading is in part up to him.

The “Movies in the Park” series is presented by the City of Chowchilla, along with major sponsors, PG&E, Madera County Arts Council, Johnson Controls, Yamabe & Horn Engineering and QK, Inc., all who actively support events in Chowchilla.

The remaining movies for July include “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” on July 20 and the original “Jumanji” on July 27.