Summertime Music & Movie Events Remain Valuable Parts of Community Health
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - After a summer of festivals, outside movie nights, free concerts, parades and social gatherings many Central Coast residents say this combination creates a healthy lifestyles and reduces stress.
Santa Barbara, Goleta, Solvang and many cities are making these events part of their community plans. They are either done by a site such as a park or historical location, or through a Parks and Recreation department.
Santa Barbara had a very four week Concerts in the Park schedule on Thursdays in July, with supporters asking for a longer schedule. Weekly, the turnout was about 2,000.
Ranchos La Patera & Stow House had a six-week Tuesday night series that just concluded with about 1,000 people each time.
The UCSB Arts & Lectures series Summer Cinema has offered Friday night films in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens. That concludes tonight with the movie Hairspray. Many people will invite friends and share food prior to the movie under the stars on the scenic lawn setting.
The estimated total crowd for the season is expected to total 10,000. Over 3000 attended on August 21 for the film Napoleon Dynamite.
Wellness experts say these activities bring family and friends together, reduce stress, boost the collective community mood, facilitating cultural exchange, and build social connections.
Tanya Paye is an event planner who has attended many of the events. "This are absolutely essential to keep the community together keep moral high especially at a time like now."
UCSB Arts & Lectures Program manager Michael Figueroa said he has been impressed with the turnout and the cordial gatherings. "Everyone is so incredibly respectful of each others space and during the movie their very quiet . "
Those attending often meet people around them and that can develop connections that are often long lasting.
"It's really great to come here and chat with people that I don't know and eventually become friends i have shared contact info with so many people at these events," said Paye.
Often times those attending bring food and enjoy their dinner as part of the event. "One of the guys I was talking to today was literally saying the ambiance of that time when you get to see so many of your neighbors , when you get to sit and talk to them and that's what he enjoys. That's long before the movie every starts."
At a recent Zoovies event at the Santa Barbara Zoo State Senator Monique Limon spent free time with her family and friends and saw the benefit of the community events. "I think folks are always hearing and seeing all the problems and challenges that we have but it is also so important to remember that we have these moments that bring us together. "
Also getting outdoors for events encourages physical mobility and a healthy lifestyle, especially if you are at a concert and out in the dance area grooving to the tunes.
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