Family and Friends
Movie in the Park
Spending time with family and friends tends to increase happiness, so why not do just that, while also watching a beloved movie in the park under the stars?
Well, as a group that certainly likes to put smiles on faces, HUG did exactly that!
This special evening was hosted as a Friends & Family event, a much-loved format that allows each HUG friend to bring up to three guests. Typically, due to space limitations, HUG events cap each HUG friend at one guest, making this night a rare chance to share the experience with even more loved ones. Consider it HUG at full capacity.
HUG invited everyone to cozy up in Largo Central Park for a night filled with Wendy’s Biggie Bags, all things Grease, lawn games, and laughter. Upon arrival, more than 110 HUG friends, along with their friends and family members, were greeted by welcoming smiles and stickers identifying who had come together to meet new faces and reconnect with familiar ones. Instant community, activated.
Lawn games ranging from jumbo tic-tac-toe to cornhole to frisbee quickly became a hit, setting the tone for the evening. Friendly competition picked up fast, right up until whispers and whiffs of incoming Wendy’s floated through the crisp air. Priorities were quickly realigned.
Friends and family members enjoyed their choice of Biggie Bags for dinner, along with popcorn for the perfect movie-night snack. As the sun set, HUG volunteers handed out glow sticks for HUG friends to wear, adding a soft glow as the park transformed into movie-night magic.
Once food was handed out, everybody settled on to their perfect patches in front of Largo’s outdoor movie screen set up. Snuggled up in blankets and warm layers, cozied up on the grass or in comfy chairs, the HUG crowd relaxed and reconnected with old friends.
Several new friends were welcomed into the HUG family to kick off 2025, and the excitement was contagious. Reconnecting with longtime friends was meaningful, but seeing HUG friends introduce their loved ones to the community made the night even more special. The more, the merrier is not just a saying here.
HUG team member Sara made the rounds with a mini mic, gathering thoughts on Grease and favorite memories from the past year. When asked what they were most excited about, many of the ladies confessed their longtime crushes on John Travolta, describing him as nothing short of dreamy. Some things never change.
Lightning moves took over the big screen, and the sea of HUG orange comprised of HUG friends and more family than ever kicked back and relaxed. In a flash, the end credits began to roll. Post-movie chatter and hugs were exchanged, and in no time, another wonderful evening of friendship and family time had concluded.
Kicking off 2025 with an evening of pure joy, community, and a classic film favorite begged the question—how will HUG outdo itself month after month in 2025?
Hint: The answer lies in the excitement of a whole lot of HUG friends and creativity of a passionate HUG team.
Written by Sarah Bryan
