By Mary Richardson

An egg hunt and a movie, plus unlimited popcorn, will all be part of this year’s Movies Under the Stars: Family Fun Night. The McNeese Banners Series and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury are co-sponsoring the event on Friday, April 18. The egg hunt will begin at 5:30, with the movie beginning at 6:30 p.m. It is free for all.

“Movies Under the Stars is one of my favorite Banners events,” said Brook Hanemann, director of the McNeese Banners Series. “It’s pure joy — kids running wild and free, families stretched out on blankets under the sky, and everyone sharing in that rare kind of magic that only happens when art meets community. It’s like we all get to press pause together, breathe in the night air, and just enjoy storytelling at its finest.”

People are invited to gather at 5:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the historic F.G. Bulber Auditorium. From there, children and adults will proceed to the McNeese quad, where McNeese students will have hidden 650 candy-filled eggs, plus a few surprises.

At 6:30, after all the eggs have been found, people will return to the front lawn of Bulber to see the movie “Peter Rabbit” on a big LED screen. “Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, or whatever makes you comfortable, and enjoy this free movie,” Hanemann said. Banners and the CPPJ will also provide free popcorn, cotton candy, and beverages.

“Peter Rabbit,” adapted from the beloved story of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” was released in 2018. The plot is that Peter Rabbit and his three sisters — Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail — enjoy spending their days in Mr. McGregor’s vegetable garden. When one of McGregor’s relatives suddenly moves in, he’s less than thrilled to discover a family of rabbits in his new home. A battle of wills soon breaks out as the new owner hatches scheme after scheme to get rid of Peter — a resourceful rabbit who proves to be a worthy and wily opponent.

“There’s something timeless about Peter Rabbit,” Hanemann said. “I think it’s the mischief, the adventure, and finding your way back home.”

Hanemann said it’s her favorite event because, “Kids get to run wild in the egg hunt, parents get to relax under the stars, and everyone walks away with a little movie magic. It’s the kind of evening that would make even Beatrix Potter smile.”