Weirton Prepares To 'Celebr8 Super 8'

From WTOV9:

Last fall, the greater Weirton area got a movie makeover.

Filmmaker J.J. Abrams, director of "Star Trek" and co-creator of "Lost," chose Weirton to stand in for the fictional Lillian, Ohio, the setting of his 1970s-era sci-fi thriller "Super 8."

Friday morning, a group of residents and civic leaders unveiled closely guarded plans for a community celebration the week of the film's international release.

The Celebr8 Weirton Summer Kick-Off will be held on Sunday, June 5, and will include a parade, entertainment and a fireworks display.

"This is to continue the good will and spirit we had back in the fall," said Fred Marsh, chair of the planning committee.

The celebration will begin with a parade at 5 p.m. along Main Street, where many of the film's backdrops still remain.

The parade will be led by local children riding their bicycles, similar to a scene featured in one of the film's early trailers.

"Everybody has seen the trailer for the movie where the boy is riding his bike down the overhead bridge," said Marsh. "We're going to ask every kid in town to get your bike, come on down; you're going to be the grand marshal."