Grease is the drawcard for moonlight movie screening

ALL SET: Wanganui Events Trust staff and volunteers [from left] Harriet Sherwood, Karen Hobbs, Willy Pelzers, Shaila Hawkins and Kat Wade get into the spirit of Grease. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Calling all Sandys, Dannys, T-Birds and Pink Ladies.

Cooks Gardens will be transported back to the 1950s on Sunday night with the 1978 musical movie Grease showing on the big screen.

Organised by the Wanganui Events Trust, it will be shown on the country's biggest outdoor screen, standing at 12m tall and 18m wide.

Event manager Kat Wade hoped the Moonlight Movie Night would be a drawcard to locals and visitors.

"We wanted to add something to the Vintage Weekend calendar and there was a gap in the Sunday event programme," she said.

"We wanted to be able to provide something for the out-of-town visitors and get them to stay another night in Whanganui."

There will be American diner-style food and drinks available for purchase and a ground bar and live music from Freddy Flash and the Firebirds. "I think the great thing about the vintage theme is it's not restricted to one era."

Miss Wade said several movies were considered but Grease was an obvious fit for Vintage Weekend.

"It's still a movie that people watch today, so it's spanned quite a few generations. Apparently, wherever they play Grease across the country it's a sell-out."

People are being encouraged to dress up in Grease theme with prizes for the best dressed along with spot prizes.

Pre-movie entertainment is from 7pm with the movie starting at 9pm.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for pensioners, students and children 13-plus with free entry for under-13s.

Tickets from the Royal Wanganui Opera House or at the gate. Entry is through Cooks St and St Hill St only. -For all Vintage Weekend information go to www.vintageweekend.co.nz