Just another ordinary spring evening in Bluffton - except for "Hunger Games" fans
Kerry Bush parked a chair at the doorway to the Shannon Theatre at 3:45 p.m. She arrived first in line for the 12:01 a.m. showing of "The Hunger Games."
Check out The Icon's video at the bottom of this story.
"I've read through the entire series. It's not as developed as Harry Potter, but it probably would be if there were more books in the series," said Bush, an obviously avid Hunger Games fan.
There were lots more fans like Kerry standing, sitting and reclining in line. Some arrived at 4, some at 5, some at 6 p.m. and later. They spread out from the theatre, north across the alley at Et Cetera to the coffee shop corner at Main and Cherry, and along the coffee shop Cherry Street wall, about four parking spots from Main. Those at the end of the line arrived at about 10 p.m.
Fortunately it was 71 degrees in downtown Bluffton, according to Citizens National Bank clock - a rare high for a late March evening in Ohio. The warm temperature added to the festive atmosphere of the evening.
Sarah Diller came all the way from Wichita, Kansas, where she is in graduate school, to pay $3 for a movie that might cost $10 or more in Kansas.
Some in line were still reading the book, hoping to finish before the movie began. Some were in parked cars with people holding their places in line.
As Peter Suter of the Shannon Theatre gazed down the line waiting for the 11 p.m. ticket sales to begin, he admitted that he'd be happy to do this every night of the year.
A group of Bluffton High School students, including Hannah Chappell-Dick, her sister Sarah, and friends McKenna Reneker, Justin Weaver and Rachel Yoder, said that this was "the event of the year" in Bluffton.
For those awaiting the clock to strike 12:01 a.m. it truly was.
Stories Posted This Week
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Pirate baseball win vs. Tigers
- Bluffton softball edged in battle of Pirates
- Committee meetings scheduled for Bluffton Council
- #1 recommended attraction in NW Ohio is in Ada
- Mental Health Awareness event with Seth Gehle
- Ohio highway patrol promoting motorcycle safety
- Recap of Bluffton Board of Education meeting for April 2025
- Weekend Doctor: Antidepressants in the long term
Friday, May 2, 2025
- BHS seniors exhibit art at Gallery 323 through May 7
- What's in your weekend?
- Pirate softball blanked by Lancers
- Pirate baseball blanked by Lincolnview
- Laman Promoted to VP Retail Credit Manager by CNB
- Local land conservancy hires first Executive Director
- Steiner to present Swiss Family Migration program on May 21
- 850 Days of Caring volunteers will pitch in for Hancock County
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Angel M. Langhals owned LFE/API Meters
- Allen Co. task force targets target sex and human traffickers
- Blessing of the Bikes, May 4
- Metzger honored at 2025 Black Swamp Council meeting
- Volunteer invitation for Bluffton Pathway Count in May
- Pirate tennis edges Ottawa-Glandorf
- Bluffton EMS station staffing goes 24/7 on May 1
- You are what you eat: Link to immune system
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Observation deck added to Motter Park cascading pools project
- Bluffton Women in Business meet May 15
- Four sportsmen stock 200 trout at Buckeye Lake
- Pirate girls, boys 2nd at Minster track quad
- Pirate baseball win vs. Riverdale
- Pirate softball loss vs. Riverdale
- Field reports from NW Ohio wildlife officers