May 27, 2026
by Heath Scofield
As part of the Ohio Goes to the Movies statewide celebration, the Pickerington Community Theatre and the Event Center at Violet Woods are teaming up to present a free screening of the beloved classic film National Lampoon’s Vacation.
Ohio Goes to the Movies is a Signature Event in the lineup of America 250-Ohio, with screenings of many films featuring Ohioan actors, directors, locations, and more occurring statewide. Venues are encouraged to show films that have connections to their region, such as screenings of The Shawshank Redemption near Mansfield.
For Pickerington, and Violet Woods in particular (albeit under the old name “The Wigwam”), that connection is actress Beverly D’Angelo, who portrayed the Griswold matriarch, Ellen.
“As folks in the community may know, the whole Violet Woods area was once owned by the Wolfe family who, among other things, owned the The Columbus Dispatch and WBNS-10TV,” explained Bram Fulk, a PCT board member. “Well, Gene D’Angelo was the longtime general manager of WBNS, and his daughter is, of course, the incredible talent that is Beverly D’Angelo.”
The close connection between the two families meant that screenings of D’Angelo’s films were held on the property inside the theater that is now home to the PCT.
“We didn’t want to pass up this opportunity to highlight the great history of this performance space,” Fulk explained before continuing, “On top of all of that, to kick off the summer season with the greatest family road trip film of all time? It’s the perfect fit.”
“This year is PCT’s 20th anniversary season, and we have had great success over the years thanks to the exceptional theatre community in central Ohio, and especially to our friends and neighbors here in Pickerington,” Fulk said of PCT’s involvement.
“We love the work that we do onstage, but we always strive to keep our focus on the community aspect of our community theatre, and teaming up with Violet Woods to offer this free screening is just another way for us to show our appreciation for all of the support the community has given us these past two decades.”
The screening is at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at the Theater at Violet Woods (10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd. NW). The event is free and open to everyone, but seating is limited. Free seats can be reserved through PCT’s website.
