By 1808Delaware
The Strand Theatre & Cultural Arts Association in downtown Delaware is wrapping summer in celluloid sparks. Three distinct series return this month— the Sandy Hardymon Free Summer Kids Series (free admission with a suggested donation) visitdelohio.com, the Dr. Dee Dee Manos Sports Series m.facebook.com, and the Sensory Series, which modifies sound and lighting for guests who benefit from a low-stimulus environment strandtheatreoh.org. Add a Music Movie Monday and a wizarding birthday party on July 31, and every Tuesday—and a couple of bonus days—has a reason to duck into the historic 1916 cinema.
July 8 – Opening-day doubleheader
Despicable Me 4 (Kids Series)
Gru’s growing family meets a brand-new super-villain—Maxime Le Mal—when Illumination’s globe-gobbling franchise returns. Directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage, the film arrives fresh from its Independence-Day opening and features the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, and Will Ferrell imdb.comyoutube.com.
Moneyball (Sports Series)
Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill re-write baseball’s rulebook as Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane and numbers-whiz Peter Brand in Bennett Miller’s Oscar-nominated 2011 drama. Aaron Sorkin’s razor-sharp script turns spreadsheets into suspense, proving on-field victories can be built in boardrooms imdb.comen.wikipedia.org.
July 15 – Speed and stamina
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Kids Series)
Ben Schwartz’s blue blur faces a new Robotnik scheme in Jeff Fowler’s third live-action/CG installment, due in theaters this December. The Strand offers kids an early peek at the first two films’ whiplash humor while teasing what’s next for Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles imdb.com.
Arthur the King (Sports Series)
Adventure-racer Mikael Lindnord (Mark Wahlberg) gains an unexpected teammate—an endurance-race stray dubbed Arthur—in this 2024 crowd-pleaser by Simon Cellan Jones. The true story of grit, geography, and one remarkable dog supplies equal parts sports drama and heart-melt imdb.comyoutube.com.
July 22 – Laughs and legacy
The Garfield Movie (Kids Series)
Chris Pratt lends his voice (and appetite) to the world-famous orange cat in Mark Dindal’s 2024 animated reboot. When a surprise reunion with his street-savvy father Vic drags Garfield into a daring heist, lasagna must wait imdb.comen.wikipedia.org.
We Are Marshall (Sports Series)
Matthew McConaughey headlines the emotional retelling of Marshall University’s 1970 plane-crash aftermath. Director McG’s 2006 film chronicles how a devastated campus rebuilt a football program—and community pride—one practice at a time en.wikipedia.orgimdb.com.
July 26 – A blue-tinted sensory morning
Smurfs (Sensory Series)
Lights up, sound down, freedom to move: the Strand’s sensory-friendly slot screens Raja Gosnell’s 2011 live-action/CG romp, sending Papa, Smurfette, and the gang from their mushroom village into New York City while ensuring a comfortable setting for neurodiverse guests imdb.comfacebook.com.
July 28 – Music Movie Monday
Coal Miner’s Daughter
Sissy Spacek’s Oscar-winning turn as country legend Loretta Lynn anchors Michael Apted’s 1980 biopic, which tracks Lynn’s climb from rural Kentucky roots to the Grand Ole Opry spotlight. The Strand pairs the film’s rich soundtrack with a one-night celebration of classic American music imdb.comrottentomatoes.com.
July 29 – Dogs and oars
Beethoven (Kids Series)
Chaos—and gallons of drool—ensue when an 185-pound St. Bernard adopts the Newton family in Brian Levant’s 1992 family comedy, penned by John Hughes under a pseudonym. Little viewers can donate hygiene items for local nonprofits and leave with an even bigger grin imdb.com.
The Boys in the Boat (Sports Series)
George Clooney’s 2023 adaptation of Daniel James Brown’s bestseller thrusts Depression-era University of Washington rowers toward an unlikely berth at Hitler’s 1936 Olympics. Joel Edgerton coaches; Callum Turner rows; sweeping lake vistas supply the muscle and the mist imdb.com.
July 31 – Happy birthday, Harry!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The Strand salutes the Boy Who Lived’s July 31 birthday with Chris Columbus’s 2001 franchise opener. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint welcome newcomers to Hogwarts, complete with wand-waving photo ops and a Beanbag Books pop-up in the lobby imdb.comen.wikipedia.org.
Know before you go
• Doors open 30 minutes before each show; Kids-Series matinees screen at 10 AM. and 2:30 PM, while Sports-Series titles roll at 7 PM.
• Kids-Series admission is free with a suggested donation (see Strand’s website for each week’s beneficiary).
• Music Movie Monday and Sports-Series tickets are standard price; proceeds support the nonprofit theatre’s 501(c)(3) mission.
Whether you crave Minion mischief, baseball sabermetrics, or a nostalgic night with Loretta Lynn, the Strand’s century-old marquee is glowing all month—no fireworks required.
