Crossroads Church in North Long Beach is hosting a free, outdoor movie night in its parking lot, Saturday, inviting the public to enjoy the last weekend of summer with some cinema and Hawaiian-style shave ice from the Kona Ice truck.
Unlike other popular movie screening events in the city, this event doesn’t require a reservation, however, seating is limited to about 30 or so guests to accommodate proper social-distancing. Crossroads requests that those interested in attending respond to their Facebook event page prior to arrival.
Guests can begin arriving at 7 p.m. and are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and pillows to sit on as well as their own snacks. The movie begins at dusk, around 7:30 p.m. The Kona Ice truck will be on-site from 7 to 8 p.m., and will be serving their fare at a “nominal” price.
Masks are required to partake in the event.
The movie night was originally intended as a thank you for volunteers who helped during the church’s free school supplies drive earlier this month but was opened up to locals looking for one last wholesome, summertime activity before LBUSD resumes fall session on Sept. 1.
There was a bit of a toss-up as far as what movie Crossroads was going to show. Originally they had been debating between faith-based “Selfie Dad” and “I Still Believe” but decided to chuck both those options for the very cute and very well-received DreamWorks animation, “Abominable” that held up through the rest of 2019 with glowing reviews from both audiences (95%) and Rotten Tomatometer critics (81%).
In an interesting little controversy, “Abominable” was banned in parts of Southeast Asia over a scene involving a map with the Nine-Dash Line, a contested demarcation line used by China to lay claim over a portion of the South China Sea. The countries in which there are territorial disputes with China over the South China Sea—namely, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia—have consequently banned the film. Of course, the actual scene only lasts for a few seconds, but when the times comes, think back to this little nugget of maritime trivia and smile—or frown, depending on how you feel about the whole debacle.
Crossroads church is located at 1900 E. South St. The church does have on-site parking, but there is also overflow parking available across the street.