City Announces "Movies in the Park," Other Events

Easton will host "an array" of new special events this year, Mayor Sal Panto said Thursday, including a Movies in the Park program in each of the city's neighborhoods.

"A lot of our children don't even get to the movies," Panto told reporters at a news conference in city hall. He noted that the films shown would be kid-friendly ones in the West Ward, South Side and College Hill, with movies geared toward adults being screened by the river.

The events are being overseen by the new Mayor's Office of Special Events, or MOOSE (a name Panto admits to swiping from Lancaster). They're being funded by a $50,000 state grant, as well as corporate sponsorship from Coca-Cola. Panto said the grant is a one-time thing, so in 2012, the MOOSE will pretty much be a "public-private partnership."

Among the other new events this year: a second day for Garlic Fest in October, (one in Centre Square, one by the River); a skateboarding festival June 19; the Easton "Brews and Blues" festival on October 8; Sports Night on the waterfront (a screening of the exploits of local sports royalty, such as Larry Holmes).

Two events will return after a three year absence: August 27's Outrageous on the River, a youth-oriented music festival (i.e. music parents might not dig) and Community Spirit Day on Sept. 3.

The city is still trying to, such as the . City Council is expected to vote on that matter at its May 11 meeting.