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Popular meeting point at the end of August: On August 30th, the open-air cinema will take place around the church in Istha. The festival also includes live music, this time with the bands Candela and Maui, and delicious food. Last year, Madison ( © Hanna Maiterth
The Istha Association and the Cinema Wolfhagen are once again inviting people to the open-air cinema. The French comedy ‘Oh La La’ will be shown. With up to 700 visitors expected, the event is a highlight in the village’s calendar. Musical entertainment and culinary delights round off the experience.
Istha – At the end of August, the square at the Istha church will once again be transformed into a large outdoor cinema. Open-air cinema – this has become a tradition in Istha, and last summer the tenth event took place there. And it doesn’t just consist of a summer cinema setting, but also gives visitors a very special experience with plenty of live music, delicious cocktails and fresh tarte flambée.
And so the Istha Friends Association and the Cinema Wolfhagen are inviting people to the French comedy “Oh La La” on the church square on Friday, August 30th. When it was shown in cinemas in the spring, the film turned out to be a crowd favorite with a high fun factor. “When selecting films, we pay attention to whether they are suitable for families,” says local mayor Wolfgang Hensel. The association relies on the experience of cinema owner Kai Mellinghoff and this has worked well so far.
The organizing team, which consists of around 60 people, is expecting up to 700 visitors. “But we’ve also had 800 people here,” says Hensel, not without pride. Ultimately, the popularity of the open-air cinema also depends on the weather. Many of the guests make a note of the event. Anyone who has already experienced the summer night backdrop around the church will come again, says Hensel about the open-air cinema, which is the biggest event in the village calendar after the fair. The idea for the open-air cinema was born in 2012. An experienced team has long been pulling the strings to organize the event. A pizza oven was purchased, investment was made in technology and tents, and even chairs were bought. And the purchase of the mobile stage ultimately goes back to the open-air cinema, says Istha’s mayor.
It is above all the solidarity among the many participants that has led to the open-air cinema taking on a life of its own from year to year, says Hensel. Only during the pandemic did they have to forego the event, which is popular in the region.
The band Candela will provide musical entertainment around the cinema event with Latin American rhythms and modern sounds. The band members come from various countries in Latin America, but also from Germany. Their music blends the different cultural influences. “The pulsating beats of salsa, bachata, merengue and cumbis merge with raggae and lain pop to create an irresistible sound that draws the audience onto the dance floor,” says an announcement. The musicians from Istha, or Maui for short, will also be performing on stage.
The event in Istha begins at 6 p.m. The culinary offerings include tarte flambée and grilled sausages. A variety of white and red wines are served in a wine tent, and there are also beer, non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails.
Advance booking offices
Tickets for the cinema cost 13 euros at the box office and 11 euros in advance. Advance booking offices: Salon Filmschnitt and in the cinema in Wolfhagen, Lotto/Toto Schnegelsberg in Wolfhagen, Bachmann garden center in Wolfhagen, Michaela Tripp nail studio in Istha, BFT-Tankzentrum in Oelshausen, Salon Haarmonie in Oelshausen, Ramonas Haarlekin in Altenstädt, Salon Schwedes in Balhorn and the local mayor’s office on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and by calling 01 78/5 21 43 40. (Antje Thon)
