Escondido family campout, movie planned Saturday

By: PAUL EAKINS - Staff Writer | Monday, July 16, 2007 11:43 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO -- Families can pitch a tent or catch a flick Saturday in Kit Carson Park through two special events sponsored by the city's recreation department.

A few spots are left for the Family Camp Out, which about 30 families are expected to attend Saturday afternoon through Sunday, recreation supervisor Mark Beasley said Monday.

The cost is $30 per family for up to four people and $10 more for each extra person, and includes dinner, snacks, breakfast and activities. Campers should take a tent, sleeping bags, toiletries and extra clothing.

"We realize families sometimes don't have time to take long vacations, pack up the car and go to a campground," Beasley said. "We bring the food, the entertainment -- everything you need, bug spray included."

For those who just want a little free entertainment, the city also plans to show the classic movie "Mary Poppins" on the city's new 20-by-40-foot inflatable movie screen at the park for anyone who wants to watch.

Attendees at Family Movie Night in the Park should take blankets, low-back lawn chairs and flashlights, Beasley said. Concessions will be sold at the event.

A movie was part of the entertainment in the campout's five previous years, but this is the first year the city has opened the movie to other visitors as well, Beasley said. However, the type of movie has changed this year because recreation officials had found that families aren't very interested in watching the latest movie on DVD, he said.

"We realized families forgot about the classics," Beasley said. "We try to give them an experience they've never had. They (children) know (cartoon character) Nemo, but they don't know (actors) Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews."

In addition to the movie, campers will have crafts, games, a nature hike and a scavenger hunt.

Check-in for the campout begins at 3:30 p.m. and activities begin at 5 p.m. To register, call (760) 839-4691.

The movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. Both events take place in the El Arroyo Picnic Area at the park on Bear Valley Parkway.

-- Contact staff writer Paul Eakins at (760) 740-5420 or peakins@nctimes.com.

Family events Saturday

- Family Camp Out, 5 p.m. to Sunday in the El Arroyo Picnic Area at Kit Carson Park. Cost is $30 for a family of four. To register, call (760) 839-4691.

- Family Movie Night in the Park, 7:30 p.m. in the El Arroyo Picnic Area at Kit Carson Park. Free.

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