Free Summer Movie Series Helps Inspire Young Readers in Cathedral City

A free summer movie series in Cathedral City is helping children develop a love of reading while providing families with a fun and affordable community activity.

Before each movie begins, families line up outside the Mary Pickford Theatre, where children receive free books, popcorn and water. Organizers say the program is designed to keep kids reading throughout the summer and help prevent learning loss while school is out.

The series is sponsored by the city's Parks and Community Events Commission in partnership with local nonprofit Dinner with Patsy, combining entertainment with literacy to encourage lifelong reading habits.

Organizers say the program is especially important as nearly one in five American adults struggles with literacy. They hope providing children with free books and positive reading experiences will help build stronger readers from an early age.

Parents say the events give children an opportunity to discover new books while enjoying a free family outing, making reading both fun and accessible.

Now in its fifth year, the summer series is drawing record attendance. Organizers say more than 5,000 books have already been distributed this summer alone.

The program continues every Friday through the end of the month, reinforcing the message that reading opens doors and helping young readers build skills that can last a lifetime.