CHOCOWINITY — A local church has partnered with the Town of Chocowinity to invite the community to come out and have a little bit of family fun and have an opportunity to sign up for vacation Bible school.

Haw Branch Church of Christ will host a community movie night July 25 at 8:30 p.m. at the Chocowinity Recreation Complex. The church will show “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” on a 25-foot projection screen, using a sound system so all who attend can view and hear the film.

Church member Jason Kirkman said the movie event, which was the Haw Branch youth group’s idea, is a precursor to the church’s vacation Bible school, set for July 27 to July 31, as well as a means to give families something fun and free to do together on a Friday night.

“It’s something that we hope to do monthly,” Kirkman said. “Next summer, we want to do it in June, July and August. We are doing it as a church outreach to the community and we want to bring the community together. It’s a way to thank the community for what they do. We were talking about ways to let the light of Jesus shine where we live, and this was an idea from the youth group at Haw Branch.”

Kirkman said popcorn and a drink will be given to everyone who attends, but the church encourages participants to bring their own chair or blanket to sit on during the movie. The movie will be shown on the football field at the complex, beside the parking lot. Participants will get tickets at the gate of the complex, giving them admittance to the movie, along with the drink and popcorn, Kirkman said.

At the event, Haw Branch will have a booth set up for families to register their children for the church’s vacation Bible school, Kirkman said.

“Our church believes in family units, and today, it’s hard for families to find something to do together and not have to spend a lot of money,” Kirkman said. “It’s a good environment, good community and a good place to raise kids and that’s why we are doing it.”

Kirkman said those planning to attend should arrive early in order to get their tickets and find a good place to sit.

Chocowinity Recreation Complex is located on N.C. Hwy 33 E in Chocowinity.