As parents of little girls under the age of two, we know all too well how hard it is to watch a movie – even if it is one about princesses.
And going out to the theater is somewhat of a thing of the past.
Sure, there are plenty of very qualified babysitters out there who will gladly watch your little one for a date night excursion, but it’s not easy finding the time with busy schedules or extra money lying around to pay for it.
But Red River Theatres and Concord Hospital’s Center for Health Promotion have a solution. It’s called BYOB although there’s no beer involved with this acronym, instead the program’s real name is Bring Your Own Baby.
On Saturday, Red River wants parents of newborns to age 1 to take a break and watch a movie in an environment where no one’s going to hush you if your baby starts crying or give you the stink eye if you have to rustle around in the diaper bag to change a little mess.
“We get that a lot of parents don’t have a lot of time to go to the movies,” said Katie Mosher, events and marketing manager at Red River.
The environment is geared toward parents and children, so the theater will be more lit than usual and the sound won’t be as loud as what you’ve come to expect, in case your child crawls away and need to locate them or if there’s a nap on the horizon.
“We’re making it a comfortable experience for new parents,” Mosher said. “It’s really designed for the babies and parents.”
While you’re encouraged to bring your child (it’s kind of the whole point), the movie on the big screen is for the adults, which is why this is for parents of children under the age of one. It won’t be a flick you’ll want your child to pay attention to.
“The movies are designed for parents and grandparents, so they might not always be appropriate for the children,” Mosher said.
You can even consider it a private screening since the program takes place before Red River opens for the day’s first showing.
So here’s how it works. Meet in the Red River lobby at 10 a.m. and get ready to pick a movie. Those in attendance get to pick from the films currently showing at Red River, so there will be anywhere from three to five choices.
“So they get to see what other people are seeing,” Mosher said.
You’ll have a few minutes to take care of those last minute diaper changes – although we all know there will be a huge blowout during the opening scene – and find a spot to sit.
“We understand when there’s a baby involved, some of the normal movie theater etiquette isn’t as important,” Mosher said.
And for the next two hours, enjoy feeling like a real adult doing adult things, while also spending time with your child.
Cost is $8 for adults, but the kids are free – which is good since they won’t be watching the movie.
The series began last year and was held three times on Wednesday mornings, but the decision was made to switch it on Saturdays. There will also be BYOB events on Sept. 24, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 and Dec. 10. All showings are at 10 a.m.
For more info, contact Mosher at kamosher@redrivertheatres.org or 224-4697 ext. 12.
Insider staff
