YCR's "Cars Under the Stars"

First Show: May 4 - Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Final Testing Before First "Cars Under the Stars"

YCR members in front of new Cars Under the Stars screen
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YCR members "helping test" new projector trailer
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YCR Sponsor Shelly Sehnert and YCR members making sure Cars Under the Stars is ready for May 4 showing
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Under the watchful eye of YCR, final adjustments are made to the projector for Cars Under the Stars
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Testing the projector as the sun goes down for the first Cars Under the Stars showing
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The McCook High School wood-working program built the building to house the projector.
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YCR's Cars Under the Stars

McCook now officially has an outdoor movie theater. Organized by MCFF"s youth group, Youth Change Reaction, the project took more than two years to complete but the entertainment venue is now up and running at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds.

The screen and video equipment are available to rent through the fairboard. A full copy of the contract is available below but please contact Jiles Bowman or the Red Willow County Fairboard for more information and to schedule a date and arrange use of the equipment at rwcfairmanager@gmail.com.

Cars Under The Stars Contract

How Cars Under the Stars Came to Be

During the spring and summer of 2022, Youth Change Reaction took on the ambitious goal of raising $70,000 to build an outdoor entertainment center, where young and old could come together to watch a movie together on the Red Willow County fairgrounds.

And on the first day of the 2022-23 school year, the students reached their fund-raising goal from dozens of donors in the community. This goal included a $20,000 matching grant from MCFF and a $7,500 youth engagement grant from the Nebraska Community Foundation.

Officially called "Cars Under the Stars," the YCR students ordered the equipment, finalized licensing agreements with movie studios and developed the forms so other community organizations can utilize the entertainment venue. Other organizations can use the equipment for a small deposit and host a movie as long as no entry fees are charged.

While the project didn't happen as quickly as they had hoped, it is coming to fruition thanks to their tenacity and determination.

Special thanks to Jiles Bowman and the Red Willow County Fair Board for taking on this project and working with YCR to make this idea to become a reality.

And thank you to everyone who supported the vision of these young people and made Cars Under the Stars possible.