What’s better than a day at the beach? How about a day and an evening at the beach? For more than 15 years, Deep River Parks & Recreation has sponsored the free Movies at the Beach series, which starts up this Friday, July 29 with Guardians of the Galaxy.

Held at Plattwood Park, the series was typically held on Fridays during August, but has shifted a week earlier to avoid conflict with the Chester Fair at the last weekend of August.

This year’s series kicks off with Guardians this Friday, followed by Secretariat (Aug. 5), The Lego Movie (Aug. 12), and Minions (Aug. 19). The movies begin at dusk, but many families show up earlier to swim at the pond, relax on the beach, or enjoy a picnic at the park.

“A lot of families will come down and spend the afternoon on the beach and come up with pizza or something, and watch the movie and have a very nice day and evening, all free,” said Carol Jones, director of Deep River Parks & Recreation.

Jones joined the commission in 1999 and oversees the Movies at the Beach series each summer.

“People typically bring a picnic dinner and just kind of throw out a picnic blanket and relax,” she said. “Some people bring chairs, they set up their little area and the whole family will enjoy the movie.”

The films are always family features. Occasionally the commission will run a double feature, too, though not this year. The Movies on the Beach subcommittee has a special method to ensure its picks are relevant and the movies are those that families will want to see.

“Most times they confer with their children,” Jones said of the subcommittee’s members. “We generally have input of the younger set to help us choose the movie titles, and we hope we put together a nice selection.”

The “theater” is a grassy area at the park that looks toward the water, with films projected onto a giant, inflatable movie screen. Typically, interest in the series picks up as the season progresses—mostly as more people get clued into the fact that the movies are happening.

“It seems to grow as the summer goes on,” Jones commented. “Some weeks there’s more than others—it depends on the feature, of course—but we always get a good crowd.”

Jones loves seeing a good turnout, since that means residents are appreciating the effort put into it by the commission as well as the town’s expenditure through the Parks & Rec budget.

“I hope people take advantage of this great opportunity to do a free, family activity right here in their hometown,” said Jones, continuing, “and of course others are welcome to come join us as well—any shoreline community member is welcome to attend.”

The series takes place rain or shine, although the former doesn’t make for a great day at the beach. On rainy days the series moves indoors, into the Town Hall’s auditorium. Food and beverages are welcome at either location.

“We do have a rain location of the Town Hall auditorium,” Jones noted. “We’re lucky we don’t have to cancel.”

So rain or shine, pack a picnic and join Deep River Parks and Rec this Friday for Marvel’s 2014 space adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy.

Movies at the Beach

Fridays, July 29 to Aug. 19

Free; movies begin at dusk

Plattwood Park, Route 80, Deep River

July 29: Guardians of the Galaxy

Aug. 5: Secretariat

Aug. 12: The Lego Movie

Aug. 19: Minions

In case of inclement weather, movies will be shown at the

Deep River Town Hall Auditorium, 174 Main Street.