Middle Gate Elementary School students and their family members were huddled in line in Edmond Town Hall’s lobby last Friday night, just before a special private showing of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

The event was the school’s Middle Gate Family Movie Night, as a handout from the Movie Night Committee for the event explained, but it was the first showing at Edmond Town Hall for the program.

Past movie nights, according to event coordinator Elvia Burke, were shown at the school and included screenings of Despicable Me and Frozen. The movie nights are fundraisers for the school’s PTA.

But the showing of the 1971 version of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Ms Burke said, took on a life of its own. Fascia’s Chocolates of Waterbury helped the event by crafting “Willy Wonka-like” candy bars for the event.

“They have been so unbelievable in offering us things,” said Ms Burke about Fascia’s Chocolates.

As attendees arrived on February 6, they waited in line to receive a packet that contained movie tickets, the chocolate bars from Fascia’s Chocolates, wrist bands, and raffle tickets for a drawing later in the evening.

“It’s been great,” Ms Burke said, between checking between stations at Edmond Town Hall. “We’re expecting a little over 340 people.”

Franco’s Pizza was available for a fee during the evening, and Edmond Town Hall also ran its concessions stand.

Inside the theater, a number of families had already found their seats while others were still arriving.

“I think it is great,” said fourth grader Kiersten Banas. “It’s nice that Middle Gate comes together.”

Kiersten also said that she enjoys being able to meet students from other grades.

“You get to relax and end the week with a nice movie, and you get to do it with all your friends,” said fellow fourth grader Maia Bracksieck.

A sampling of other students said they thought the evening was “awesome,” “fun,” and “it’s going to be good.”

Edmond Town Hall Manager Tom Mahoney said the event brought a “good crowd.”

“I’m sure they will enjoy the film,” said Mr Mahoney. “It’s a nice film.”

Before the movie began, Middle Gate Principal Chris Geissler and Ms Burke addressed the audience.

Mr Geissler thanked Edmond Town Hall and the school’s “dedicated PTA” for helping the movie night come together. He also thanked the evening’s sponsors, Newtown Florist, Chick-fil-A, Franco’s Pizza, and Fascia’s Chocolate.

Following the event, Ms Burke also thanked the Edmond Town Hall Board of Directors, board member Andy Clure, town hall manager Sheila Torres, and Mr Mahoney for being “instrumental” in helping the event happen.

Ms Burke said she hoped everyone would enjoy the evening, and presented Mr Geissler with a movie poster, signed by the film’s star Gene Wilder.

Then it was time for Mr Geissler to make an announcement, “There are five golden tickets out there in the crowd.”

As the audience members opened their chocolate bars to reveal whether they were one of the five ticket winners, Mr Geissler explained that the five winners would receive autographed DVDs of the film, also signed by Gene Wilder, four would receive tours of Fascia’s Chocolates in Waterbury, and one grand winner would receive a special three- to four-hour tour of Fascia’s Chocolates.

One by one, the students made their way up to the stage at Edmond Town Hall to show their golden tickets to the crowd. Lauren Thebodo was the grand winner, and the other winners were Ashley Schrader, Patrick Ward, Emily Joyce, and Grant Crossman.