Monday movies in Dewey bringing large crowds

The weekends in Dewey may still belong to the college kids, but during the week the town is full of families who are enjoying its family-friendly events.

Proof of this is the record-setting attendance seen at Monday Night Movies so far this summer.

Dewey Beach Mayor Diane Hanson, speaking at the commissioner's meeting July 11, said the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce has sponsored the event for years, but it's finally starting to take hold with the families coming to town.

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event.

Steve Montgomery, Starboard owner and chamber executive board member, attended the record-setting movie night with his two young children June 30, the Monday before July 4.

In an email to the Cape Gazette, Montgomery said there were over 750 people on the beach for the viewing, breaking the previous record of 450 set last summer. He said a combination of timing - July 4 week and the popularity of the movie - "Frozen" - brought the crowd.

It was a perfect summer night with low humidity, Montgomery said.

Hanson also said combination of the the movie and the perfect weather as a "superstorm" that brought out such a great crowd.

Montgomery said the only issue was that it was hard to hear all the way in the back. In response, he said, the chamber purchased additional speakers to help alleviate the problem in the future.

Montgomery said the bonfires on the beach on Wednesdays is also going well and credited the town for offering free parking from 5 to 11 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, to accommodate the family-friendly events.

“The kids' movies and bonfires are going incredible,” he said.