By Denise Gary
Photographs © Robert Gary
They came from Loompaland . . . innumerable Oompa Loompas . . . inundating The Royale Cinema in Mesa, Arizona this past weekend with their mischievous merrymaking!
There were no Snozzwangers or Whangdoodles present to spoil the boisterous revelry.
The cinema was packed with roisterers, who came to partake in games and a screening of the original Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Kids Need to Read Family Day was sponsored by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange and hosted by The Royale, with all proceeds benefiting KNTR. The event sold out and $452 was raised without anyone revealing the secret formula of the Everlasting Gobstopper.
Jeremiah Wilkerson & Andrea Beesley-Brown of The Royale, Denise Gary, and Lori Whipple of Bookmans.
There were plenty of non-Loompan workers helping out.
KNTR staff and volunteers Debbie Brown, Denise Gary, Kevin Douglass, Bridget Lloyd, Jade Lloyd, Rebecca Halpin, and Robert Gary
The Candy Creation Station was a hoppin’ place.
Parents helped out their children.
Kids beamed with pride over their yummy creations.
KNTR handed out cool stuff, of course.
There were KNTR backpacks, Highlights magazines, books, and literacy buttons.
Jade and Rebecca handed out the KNTR goodies, and Debb made sure everything ran smoothly.
Andrea sold tickets.
Lori took Oompa Loompa pictures.
Kevin taught the fine art of stringing candy.
Bridget gave away Bookmans goodie bags.
Robert was our photographer . . . except in the picture below, because, of course, he is in this one.
Denise played with the candy.
In between cartoons and the movie, Bookmans gave away Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory books and lollipops as door prizes.
One lucky girl found a golden egg in her goodie bag, entitling her to the grand prize worth $100!
Denise shared thanks and a little information about KNTR with the audience.
After the show, the Oompa Loompas poured out of the cinema and went back to work at the chocolate factory, carrying their loot with them.
Thanks so much to Bookmans, The Royale Cinema, Lori Whipple, Andrea Beesley-Brown, Jeremiah Wilkerson, and the KNTR staff and volunteers for making this event so cool for the kids, parents, AND Oompa Loompas. It was an amazing success – The Royale is simply good ol’ fashioned fun!
Photo Gallery: Kids Need to Read Family Day at The Royale, Sponsored by Bookmans
