Free open-air film screenings return to Warwick town centre

Details of the five free films to be shown on a giant screen in the main square between August 21 and August 25 have just been announced.

They start with the 1986 coming-of-age comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on the Thursday night and continue with Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Dirty Dancing and Goonies.

At the same time the streets will be filled with cookery demonstrations and other associated events.

And people sitting at their home computers will be able to enjoy live-streaming of some of the action in the kitchens of town restaurants.

It’s hoped no Gordon Ramsay style swearing will be exhibited before the watershed.

The first festival, last year, attracted £25,000 from Warwickshire County Council as part of efforts to increase footfall in town centres.

This year organisers may go it alone - especially after 2,500 people packed into Market Place and more than 100,000 others began engaging with one or more fringe events. For this, if no other reason, Warwick Rocks spokesman Jack Linstead is confident he’ll be able to raise the necessary cash from local sponsorship.

Major players like Warwick Racecourse and Warwick Castle are expected to get involved once again and food stalls will be let in Market Place, Smith Street and other locations.

Film-goers are expected to take along their own chairs to the open-air screenings - but there will be plenty of attractive refreshments on sale - all sourced from within 20 miles of the town.

Smith Street will be closed on the Saturday (August 23) for food demonstrations.

Warwick traders have long been ahead of the game in using social media and within half an hour of this year’s free film line up being announced, 1,500 people and even some potential sponsors had visited the www.warwickrocks.org website.