With blankets, chairs and refreshments in hand many families will make their way this summer to one of various parks across the county for outdoor movies.

Alabaster Parks and Recreation Director Larry Vann said his department wanted to create more opportunities for families to spend quality time together.

&8220;We started doing this to evolve into more than youth sports,&8221; Vann said. &8220;It was out of an effort to expand into family enjoyment and was a unique way to bring the community together.&8221;

Vann said the response in Alabaster has been incredible; more than 600 people showed up for the May 25 showing of Cars. The movies average around 450 people.

For the cities and companies that provide the movies it&8217;s a large investment.

Vann said the city of Alabaster spent about $18,000 on the equipment. Each movie is also sponsored by a company or organization so that they can remain free to the public.

He said Alabaster got the idea from Hoover, which started its Friday Night Movie series three years ago. Hoover&8217;s movies are now held at Veterans Park in front of Spain Park High School. Hoover&8217;s next movie will be Charlotte&8217;s Web on June 29.

Other cities are participating as well. Chelsea has movies on Sunday evenings with Shrek opening its series on June 24.

Helena began its Sundown Cinemas at the Helena Amphitheater in early June.

This weekend the featured movie in Helena is Charlotte&8217;s Web.

Happy Feet will be on the big-screen in Heardmont Park on June 30 and Alabaster is showing RV this Friday.

Upcoming movies and series for summer 2007, include:

Alabaster

Veterans Park

June 22: &8220;RV&8221;

July 6: &8220;Facing the Giants&8221;

July 20: &8220;Bridge to Terabithia&8221;

August 3: &8220;Over the Hedge&8221;

August 17: &8220;Pirates of the Caribbean &8212; Dead Man’s Chest&8221;

Chelsea Park

June 24: &8220;Shrek&8221;

July 29:

&8220;Charlotte&8217;s Web&8221;

August 26: &8220;The Goonies&8221;

Helena Amphitheater

June 22 : &8220;Charlotte&8217;s Web&8221;

June 29 : &8220;Zoom&8221;

July 6 : &8220;The Ant Bully&8221;

July 13:

&8220;Superman Returns&8221;

July 20: &8220;Barnyard&8221;

July 27 : &8220;Spiderman 2&8221;

August 3: &8220;Open Season&8221;

Hoover

Veterans Park

June 29: &8220;Charlotte&8217;s Web&8221;

Pelham

Heardmont Park

June 30: &8220;Charlotte&8217;s Web&8221;