NATCHEZ — The YMCA will host its first official function in Natchez Friday night.

The Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi — with which the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission has partnered to develop a countywide recreation program — will host a family movie night from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Duncan Park.

The outdoor showing will be of the film “Kung Fu Panda 3,” and those who attend are encouraged to bring picnic items or chairs.

“This is our first event we are having in Natchez, and it’s just an opportunity for people to come out and meet and learn more about the Y and what we plan to do in Natchez,” the YMCA’s liaison for Natchez Casey Custer said.

“We hope to have some more of these evenings through the year, though we might move them around to different parks around town.”

YMCA Director of Development Janet Reihle said families only spend on average eight hours a week with one another, and part of the YMCA’s mission is to help them spend more time together.

“Weekend quality time is best with an average of two hours and 20 minutes devoted to the family each day. During the week the amount of quality time shrinks to just 36 minutes on average each day,” she said. “We hope Family Movie Night and other Y programs for whole families helps make spending quality time with each other a priority.”

The YMCA was introduced into the plans for a recreation program after plans for a community pool as part of an overall recreation complex were introduced in 2014.

Some community leaders said they felt the YMCA could better run an aquatics program than locals who did not have any experience doing so. The group officially entered into a contract with the recreation commission to manage the overall recreation program earlier this year.

In addition to overseeing after school programs and hosting events such as the one planned for Friday, the YMCA has been tasked with — among other things — the maintenance and management of the basketball courts, pool facility and multi-purpose fields in varying stages of development near Liberty Park.

The organization is also looking for other opportunities to partner with organizations in Natchez to foster healthy living and activities for families. Those looking to get involved with the YMCA can contact its community development office at 601-326-4701.