Due to rain, Oconomowoc postpones 'The Wizard of Oz' 85th anniversary showing to Sept. 6

The City of Oconomowoc has rescheduled the 85th anniversary of the "Wizard of Oz" screening due to poor weather conditions expected Thursday night, the city announced on its website.

The National Weather Service forecasted a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the Oconomowoc area after 3 p.m.

The screening, traditionally held in the city's downtown, has been rescheduled for Friday, Sept. 6. The showings are held outdoors in Oz Plaza, the area of the Oconomowoc downtown that's dedicated to "The Wizard of Oz."

August 15, 1939, was the date of the premiere of "The Wizard of Oz" at the now-demolished Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, according to event organizer Moonlit Movies .

However, the location of the first world premiere of the film is still contested, with Hollywood, New York and Green Bay among the cities making a claim to the title.

More: Did Oconomowoc really host the world premiere of 'The Wizard of Oz'? Here's what we found.

Moonlit Movies, a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization that shows movies in Oconomowoc, posted a timeline of the anniversary celebration on its website.

Wisconsin Avenue from the roundabout to the four corners on Wisconsin Avenue will close at 10 a.m. on Sept. 6. Chair seating on Wisconsin Avenue opens at 1 p.m.

The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with the newly-renovated Oz Plaza's ribbon-cutting ceremony set to start at 6 p.m. next to City Hall, a costume contest on the Village Green at 7:30 p.m. and the movie screening starting at dusk.

More: Oconomowoc will take Oz Plaza a step further for the 'Wizard of Oz' premiere anniversary in 2024

Contact Angelika Ytuarte at AYtuarte@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Due to rain, Oconomowoc postpones 'The Wizard of Oz' 85th anniversary showing to Sept. 6