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Fall Family Movie Night sets
record attendance
[October 06, 2026]
The city of Lincoln and the
Lincoln Park District held a Fall Family Movie Night at the Eighth
Street Park. Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch stated that it seemed like a
record turnout at the movie night, which was featuring Beetlejuice.
In total, nearly 60 people came out.

The movie was scheduled to start at
6:30 p.m., but actually started after 7:00 due to the setting sun
still being too bright. In the meantime, families were encouraged to
get a hot dog, chips, and some water, courtesy of the Lincoln Police
Department. Officers Jason Rohrer and Jacquelynn Hannel were cooking
the hot dogs and serving the food. Becky Strait, Executive Director
at the Lincoln Park District, made sure there were enough chips,
water, and hot dog buns for those getting food.
Welch and city of Lincoln Administrative Assistant Ashley Metelko
worked on getting the inflatable movie screen and speaker set up. It
took some time, but the pair was able to get it set up with plenty
of time to spare.
While waiting for the sun to further set, Welch came over and had a
brief conversation with Lincoln Daily News. In the conversation,
Welch mentioned that, next year, they are wanting to have the movies
at the pavilion, which was just built this year. The area was still
taped off, and Welch shared that the grass just is not ready for
people to set up on it for a movie quite yet.
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A few people were present at
6:30. There was a slow trickle of people after this, but it
never really slowed until the movie started after 7:00. The few
became a dozen, then two dozen, and eventually around 60 people.
All had either blankets, chairs, or both.
Once the lighting was right, Welch got up in front of the crowd
and thanked everyone for coming. He specifically thanked the
police department, the Park District, and Metelko. He kept his
comments brief, starting the movie immediately after. Everyone
present hunkered down in the chilly evening weather to watch a
Halloween classic.
[Matt Boutcher] |