Kids' day at the cinema

All cinemas in Malta and Gozo marked Children's Cinema Day yesterday, with tickets for children and accompanying adults selling at reduced prices.

Attendance was up over last year's event, with Stuart Little 2, followed by Spy Kids 2 being the most popular films.

The cinemas also laid on treats for children. At the Embassy cinemas in Valletta, children were offered gifts and a variety of freebies, including posters, stationery and fairy tale cassettes with their cinema tickets.

There was a "buzzing" atmosphere at Eden Century Cinemas in St Julian's, according to Eden Leisure Group marketing manager Kate De Cesare, who said the cinemas aimed to create a children's entertainment day, with a variety of activities, including face painters and stilt walkers.

Scooby Doo and Peter Pengiun did the rounds at Eden Century Cinemas, where the party coincided with activities organised to celebrate the Eden Ice Arena's first birthday this weekend. Palm trees paved the way and a 'Hawaiian' animation team in grass skirts, adding colour to the day.

As part of the first anniversary celebrations yesterday evening, Corkscrew performed on the ice rink, which is today the venue for an ice hockey game between Canada and 'the rest of the world'.

Empire Cinemas general manager Joseph Vella said an increase in attendance was evident even before the more popular 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. shows.