By 1808Delaware
The Strand Theatre’s Free Summer Kids Series, renamed in 2023 as The Sandy Hardymon Free Summer Kids Series, is a tradition in Delaware County. Running from this Tuesday, June 4 to July 30 this year, the series will take place at the historic cinema located at 28 East Winter Street in Delaware. This initiative, cherished by the community for decades, continues to offer free daytime entertainment for children while fostering a spirit of giving.
Tracey Peyton, the managing director, highlighted the program’s mission: “The mission is to offer Delaware children free daytime entertainment, teach them to give to those in need, and provide essential supplies to local charities that benefit from these donations. The Strand takes immense pride in this long-standing program as their way of service to the community—giving from one generation to the next!”
Schedule and Donations
The series will feature two shows every Tuesday at 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM, with doors opening 30 minutes before each show. The 2024 lineup includes a mix of animated favorites and classic films:
- June 4: Despicable Me 3
- June 11: Trolls Band Together
- June 18: Spiderman: Across the Spider Verse
- June 25: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
- July 9: Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie
- July 16: Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken
- July 23: Migration
- July 30: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to donate designated items each week to benefit local nonprofit organizations. For a list of suggested donations and local nonprofit partners, visit www.strandtheatreoh.org.
Fostering a Spirit of Generosity
Peyton emphasized the importance of instilling a spirit of generosity in children: “When we can instill this spirit of generosity at such an early age, this is only a glimpse of what is to come—a future of charitable adults, which is something that all non-profits can use a little bit more of. It makes my heart melt to see our patrons answer this call to action. It makes my job very rewarding in that sense.”
A Historic Venue with a Heart
Established in 1916, The Strand Theatre is one of the ten oldest continuously operating movie theatres in the country, showcasing first-run films. Beyond its historic charm, The Strand has been nationally recognized for its Sensory initiative and was honored with the Quality-of-Life Award by the Delaware Chamber of Commerce for making significant contributions to the community.
In 2021, The Strand received two prestigious awards for its efforts during the pandemic: The Main Street Delaware’s Business Innovation Award and the statewide Ohio Historical Theatre of the Year Award presented by Heritage Ohio.
Photo: 1808Delaware
