"Discovering Chatham" is an ongoing series of posts on the interesting people, places, events and news from northern Chatham County, published on our blog every Wednesday. You can read previous "Discovering Chatham" entries by clicking here. Leave us a comment and let us know what else about Chatham County you'd like to discover!

Organizers set up the projector on the afternoon of May 22. (Photo by Rebecca Lower)Everyone knows that going to the movies can become a bit pricey, especially when you take your whole family and buy snacks. But every fourth Friday from April to October, downtown Pittsboro screens a family-friendly film for free at dusk.

The event began last year. Leslie Fesperman, a coordinator with the Pittsboro Merchants Association, came up with the idea in an effort to lure more people downtown. Local shops, like The Joyful Jewel, Beggars and Choosers and Annie B & the Black and White Guy, stay open late, so that attendees can do a little shopping prior to show time.Pittsboro residents Jay and Z LeBlanc rarely miss a Fourth Friday showing.

This year, the theme is comedies, like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Airplane and Napoleon Dynamite. Last year, the focus was on classics such as Some Like It Hot and The African Queen.

Movies are projected onto a screen that’s hung on the side of Antonella’s Salon, next to Capital Bank on Hillsboro Street. All moviegoers have to do is bring a chair.

And for those who can’t imagine watching a movie without treats, popcorn and sodas are sold for $1. Fish sandwiches, made by Howard Alston, are sold for $4. And Barney’s Famous Hot Dogs, owned by Barney Collins, are available for $2.

Here’s the upcoming schedule:Jackie Riggsbee Collins serves hot dogs to hungry moviegoers.

June 26 – National Lampoon's Vacation

July 24 – City Slickers

Aug. 28 – The Princess Bride

Sept. 25 – Napoleon Dynamite

Oct. 23 – Young Frankenstein