Fairfield arts center hosts outdoor film

FAIRFIELD – The Fairfield Arts & Convention Center’s parking lot was full of cars Saturday night, all gathered to watch the documentary film “The Need to Grow.”

The film was shown on a large, inflatable screen outside the arts center. Eleven organizations from the area collaborated to sponsor the film and promote the event, which included not just an outdoor movie but also informational booths about the groups. The Hungry Camel food truck was there to serve Middle Eastern food to the movie-goers.

The Hungry Camel’s owner, Nisan Alva, said he just started the business on Oct. 1, and that he’s been selling at various events since then such as the Fairfield Farmers Market. He said he plans to be at the next and final outdoor market of the year on Saturday in Howard Park, and that customers can find out where the food truck will be by following him on Facebook and Instagram.

Members of Fairfield Interact, Rotary’s youth arm, wore their distinctive blue sweatshirts while volunteering to set up the screen and the booths. Interact had a busy weekend, since its members volunteered at the library’s “When the Lights Go Out” program at Chautauqua Park the day before.

Organizers of the outdoor movie said this film is the first in a series called “Walkin’ the Talk” about healthy models for interacting with the planet. Margaret Dwyer, a member of Southeast Iowa Sierra Club (one of the sponsoring groups) said the plan is to show another film in the series for the public at least a month from now, and possibly outside.

The 11 sponsoring organizations were the Southeast Iowa Sierra Club, the Fairfield Rotary Club, the Fairfield Public Library, The Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, The Fairfield Farmers Market, Soil Technologies Corporation, the Sustainable Living Coalition, AgArts, the MIU Regenerative Organic Agriculture program, the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust and the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.