Thousands of kids visit Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies at Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - As soon as kids entered the Arlington theatre in Santa Barbara, they went wild.

Mikes field trip to the movies brought 2,000 kids from some 30 different schools to watch the screening of the animated film Inside Out 2. 

“I’m having fun because I’m with my friends and in a movie theater that’s really tall,” said student Haven Bodine from Monroe Elementary School.

For some of these kids, this is their first time at a movie theater.

Others who have been to a movie theater, say they’ve never been to this one.

“It has cool lights on top and it has a bunch of like interesting buildings," said student Andrew Urrutia of Monroe Elementary School.

"It means a lot and plus we can all share an experience together … even if you’ve seen it it’s okay … at least we can share one moment together," said student Eva Vasquez of Carpinteria Middle School.

This year, the film festival is welcoming a film composer at Mike's Field Trip to the Movies.

"Films are such a communal experience said to get to learn about how film was made, and learned the behind-the-scenes. We want to provide an education on film and filmmaking, and expose them to future potential careers," said education director Claire Waterhouse of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies reaches over 4,000 underserved and low-income elementary school students each year.

The program includes a trip to the historic Arlington Theatre during the Film Festival for a screening of one of the year’s best animated films.

Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies reaches over 4,000 underserved and low-income elementary school students each year.

The program includes a trip to the historic Arlington Theatre during the Film Festival for a screening of one of the year’s best animated films.