Movies at the 50-yard line

Beautiful summer nights were made for friends, families and neighbors to come together. And on Aug. 4, the Athletics department and the Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations hosted the annual Northwestern Movie Night as more than 1,500 members of the Evanston community gathered on the grass of Ryan Field to enjoy a picnic and a showing of Disney’s “Encanto” on the big screen.

Kids and parents had the rare chance to run across the football field, take photos with the NCAA field hockey national championship trophy and meet Willie the Wildcat.

“Events like this remind us all that Northwestern is so much more than a place to learn, do research and compete in college sports,” said Dave Davis, executive director of Neighborhood and Community Relations. “This campus is also a community asset that attracts people from all walks of life, strengthens our bonds and improves our mental well-being.”