WALTON Film Festival launches this week with the chance for visitors to watch a movie under the stars every Friday.
This season there is a musical theme with outdoor screenings of Mamma Mia, The Greatest Showman, Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born on the lawns next to the hall.
Film lovers are advised to come prepared for the weather. You can book a deckchair along with your ticket or bring blankets or a camping chair.
There will also be a bar along with hot food and snacks for sale. Alternatively you can bring your own food.
It starts on Friday when around 700 people will watch Mamma Mia on an 8m by 4m screen. There will also be live entertainment from Abba tribute, Abbarella.
It will be followed by The Greatest Showman on September 6, Bohemian Rhapsody on September 13 and A Star Is Born on September 20.
A Star is Born
Cllr Tony Higgins, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure and community, said: “Due to the success and popularity of the 2018 film screenings at Walton Gardens, we decided to bring them back for 2019.
"The Walton Film Festival has quickly become one of the highlights in our cultural calendar, giving people the opportunity to experience celebrated films on the big screen, in the magnificent open space of Walton Hall and Gardens.
"This year’s festival, with its musical theme, is set to be more inspirational than ever, and audiences can expect some truly uplifting nights where they will be singing along with the hit songs which are so famous all over the world.”
Frank Allen, from Warrington Borough Council, added: "We began the Walton Film Festival last year showing classics such as Notting Hill, Donnie Darko and The Blair Witch Project. This year, to coincide with the musical themed films coming out from Hollywood we thought it’d be great to replicate this musical theme.
"With Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody headlining the event, supported by The Greatest Showman, Mamma Mia and A Star Is Born there’s music and films for all generations"
Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Amanda Seyfried and set on a Greek island, Mamma Mia is a musical about a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs of Abba.
Known for its infectious soundtrack, The Greatest Showman celebrates the life of PT Barnum (Hugh Jackman) and the birth of showbusiness.
Bryan Singer's multi award-winning Bohemian Rhapsody sees Rami Malek play Freddie Mercury in the story of Queen, leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid in 1985.
And the Oscar-winning A Star Is Born, with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, is a remake of the heart-wrenching story about a musician who helps a young singer find fame as his own career begins to take a dip.
Walton Film Festival is one of a number of high profile events taking place this year in a bid to turn the hall and gardens into one of the north west's premier attractions.
Visitor numbers to the 32-acre park between 2017 and 2018 were 257,000 and figures suggest there will be an increase of 20,000 by the end of 2019.
Walton Film Festival runs from Friday, until September 20.
Doors open at 7.30pm with live entertainment before the film starts shortly after sunset with tickets from £12. Visit waltonhallgardens.co.uk/upcoming-events
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