Photo:
courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation
I distinctly remember the first time I happened upon an outdoor movie in Seattle. Purely by chance, I was walking through Seattle Center when I heard a line ring out from my favorite movie, “The Princess Bride.” And there it was, playing on the big screen on a warm summer night: my favorite movie in my favorite city. I felt such joy as I stood on the lawn, among a crowd of people on picnic blankets and lawn chairs who were experiencing it too. “Inconceivable!”
It became a favorite tradition — one I am excited to share with my family. While an outdoor movie with kids requires more planning (and a packing list), I still think it’s worth it to stay up past bedtime and see their favorites on a big screen. And best of all, nearly all of these outdoor movies are free.
Outdoor movies in Greater Seattle
Center City Cinema at Denny Park
Location: Denny Park, 100 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle
The City of Seattle’s Park Activation program focuses on positive programming in local parks, including outdoor movies through Center City Cinema. Movies at Denny Park start at 6:30 p.m. There are usually food trucks on-site.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Wednesday, July 16: “Karate Kid”
Wednesday, July 23: “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”
Wednesday, Aug. 20: “Grease”
Center City Cinema at Lake Union Park
Location: Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle
Need a movie option on a Friday night? Lake Union Park delivers in August, with a movie starting at 6:30 p.m.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, Aug. 1: “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
Center City Cinema at Ballard Commons Park
Location: Ballard Commons Park, 5701 22nd Ave. N.W., Seattle
Ballard Commons Park unveiled a new playground just last year, and the park hosts community events all summer long. Movies start at 6:30 p.m. There are usually food trucks on-site.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Wednesday, July 30: “Top Gun”
Wednesday, Aug. 6: “Galaxy Quest”
Wednesday, Aug. 13: “Coco”
Center City Cinema at Hing Hay Park
Location: Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle
Movies begin at 6:30 p.m.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Saturday, Aug. 2: “Goonies”
Saturday, Aug. 9: “She Marches in Chinatown”
Saturday, Aug. 16: “Wicked”
Saturday, Aug. 23: “Lilo and Stitch” (2002)
Center City Cinema at Freeway Park
Location: Freeway Park, 700 Seneca St., Seattle
Catch a movie on Freeway Park’s outdoor LED screen at 6:30 p.m. on select summer nights.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Wednesday, June 25: “Wayne’s World”
Friday, Aug. 8: “Anaconda” (1997)
Friday, Aug. 15: “Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)
Friday, Aug. 22: “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”
Friday, Aug. 29: “Clash of the Titans” (1981)
Friday, Oct. 31: “Beetlejuice” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (double feature)
Center City Cinema at Cal Anderson Park
Location: Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave., Seattle
Pack a blanket and head to Cal Anderson Park for a classic movie, Friday nights in June and July at 6:30 p.m.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, June 27: “Wicked” (Sing-along version)
Friday, July 11: “Mama Mia! Here We Go Again”
Friday, July 18: “Shrek”
Friday, July 25: “Rocky Horror Picture Show”
West Seattle Outdoor Movies at Camp Long
Location: Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave. S.W., Seattle
Head over the bridge to the field in front of the main fire ring at Camp Long, with your low-rise lawn chairs, blankets and snack in tow. Movies start at dusk.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, Aug. 22: TBA
Friday, Sept. 5: TBA
Friday, Sept. 19: TBA
Movies at the Mural, Seattle Center
Location: Mural Amphitheatre at Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle
Seattle Center’s outdoor summer movie series features a giant screen near the Space Needle at the Mural Amphitheatre. Picnics are encouraged, so pack a basket and bring your best outdoor blanket. Movies show on Saturdays at dusk (around 9 p.m.). Before each feature film, a short film by local students is shown. Note that this series tends to be more teen- and adult-oriented.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 25: “Ratatouille”
Friday, Aug. 1: “The Princess Bride”
Friday, Aug. 8: “E.T. the Extraterrestrial” (1984)
Friday, Aug. 15: “Say Anything”
Friday, Aug. 22: “Wicked”
Terrace Summer Nights: Movies
Location: Terrace Creek Park, 23200 48th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace
Bring your lawn chairs and snacks to Terrace Creek Park for family-friendly movies this summer. Movies start 15 minutes after sunset, estimated start times listed below.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Saturday, July 26, at 9 p.m.: “The Princess Bride”
Saturday, August 2, at 9 p.m.: “Monsters University”
Friday, August 8, at 8:45 p.m.: “A Goofy Movie”
Friday, August 22, at 8:30 p.m.: “Sing 2”
Edmonds Outdoor Movie Nights (Frances Anderson Center Playfield)
Location: Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St., Edmonds
Edmonds Outdoor Movie Nights are free to attend, but you’ll want to bring cash for the concession stand (which serves popcorn, snacks and drinks). Shows start around 15 minutes after sunset.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 11: “Moana 2”
Edmonds Outdoor Movie Nights (Seaview Park)
Location: Seaview Park, 8030 185th Street S.W., Edmonds
Bring cash for the concession stand and plan to arrive around sunset.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 18: “The Wild Robot”
Edmonds Outdoor Movie Nights (Civic Center Playfield)
Location: Civic Center Playfield, 598 Edmonds St., Edmonds
Like all Edmonds Outdoor Movie Nights, this one has a cash concession stand and movies that start 15 minutes after sunset. This year includes a children's entrepreneur market with handmade items for sale.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 25: “The Goonies”
Edmonds Outdoor Movie Night (Hickman Park)
Location: Hickman Park, 23700 104th Ave. W., Edmonds
Remember to bring cash if you (or the kids) want popcorn, drinks or snacks. Movies start 15 minutes after the sun sets. Get there early for a pre-movie pick-up game for all ages on the baseball field.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, Aug. 1: “The Sandlot”
Sail-In Cinema Outdoor Movie by the Port of Everett
Location: Boxcar Park, 1200 Millwright Loop W., Everett
Catch family movies Friday nights in July and August at the only waterfront movie series in Snohomish County. Bring a blanket and low-back chairs, and don’t forget to dress in layers since it can get chilly by the water. If you plan to arrive by boat, guest moorage is available at Port of Everett’s North Guest Dock 7, but you’ll want to come ashore to be able to see the movie screen.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 25: “13 Going on 30”
Friday, Aug. 1: “Million Dollar Arm”
Friday, Aug. 8: “The Finest Hours”
Friday, Aug. 15: “The Wild Robot”
Friday, Aug. 22: “Cars”
Marysville Movie in the Park
Location: Jennings Memorial Park, 6915 Armar Rd., Marysville
Presented by Marysville Parks, Culture and Recreation, the 2025 Outdoor Movies Series runs for five Fridays in July and August. Movies begin at dusk, but you’ll want to get there early to snag a great spot.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 11, at 9:10 p.m.: “Captain America: Brave New World”
Friday, July 18, at 9:00 p.m.: “The Fall Guy”
Friday, July 25, at 8:55 p.m.: “Inside Out 2”
Friday, Aug. 1, at 8:45 p.m.: “Moana 2”
Friday, Aug. 8, at 8:35 p.m.: “Snow White”
Stanwood Movies in the Park
Location: Church Creek Park, 27116 72nd Ave. N.W., Stanwood
This is one of my favorite parks, with a nature-themed playground and a disc golf course. If you’re looking for a weeknight movie fix north of Seattle, this is it. For three Thursdays in August, you can catch family favorites and enjoy popcorn for free. Treats from local bakeries will be for sale. Movies begin at dusk, usually around 8 or 8:30 p.m.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Thursday, Aug. 7: “Moana 2”
Thursday, Aug. 14: “The Little Rascals”
Thursday, Aug. 21: “Top Gun: Maverick”
Eastside outdoor movies
Bellevue’s Movies in the Park
Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 N.E. Fourth St., Bellevue
Head to Downtown Park in Bellevue on Tuesday evenings to watch family-friendly movies on a 40-foot movie screen. Pre-movie entertainment starts at 7 p.m. and movies begin at dusk.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Tuesday, July 15: “Moana 2”
Tuesday, July 22: “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu”
Tuesday, July 29: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Tuesday, Aug. 5: “Cars”
Tuesday, Aug. 12: “Miracle”
Tuesday, Aug. 19: “Monsters University”
Crossroads Movies in the Park
Location: Crossroads Park,16140 N.E. Eighth St., Bellevue
This four-week movie series takes place on the lawn at Crossroads Park on Thursday evenings in August. Family activities start at 7 p.m. and movies start at dusk.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Thursday, July 31: “Cool Runnings”
Thursday, Aug. 7: “An American Tail”
Thursday, Aug. 14: “Wicked”
Thursday, Aug. 21: “The Wild Robot”
Outdoor Movies at Marymoor Park
Location: Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E., Redmond
Movies begin at dusk at Marymoor Park, rain or shine. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and plan to check out the food trucks, music and entertainment. Tickets are $10 per person; ages 5 and younger are free.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Wednesday, July 2: “Goonies”
Wednesday, July 9: “Lilo & Stitch”
Wednesday, July 16: “Legally Blonde”
Thursday, July 24: “The Wild Robot”
Thursday, July 31: “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Wednesday, Aug. 6: “Up”
Thursday, Aug. 14: “Pirates of the Caribbean”
Wednesday, Aug. 20: “Wicked”
South King County and Tacoma-area movies
Covington Outdoor Family Movie
Location: Covington Community Park Playfield, 17649 S.E. 240th St., Covington
Head to the Covington Community Park Playfield on Friday evenings in July and August for family movies. Bring a low-back chair, snacks and enjoy the show. Movies start at dusk.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 25, at 9 p.m.: “Sonic 3”
Friday, Aug. 1, at 9 p.m.: “Toy Story”
Friday, Aug. 8, at 8:45 p.m.: “Inside Out 2”
Friday, Aug. 15, at 8:30 p.m.: “Moana 2”
Motors & Movies Series at ACM
Location: LeMay – America’s Car Museum, 2702 East D St., Tacoma
On select Fridays this summer, head to America’s Car Museum for drive-in movies on the Haub Family Field. But there’s no vehicle necessary: ACM has a designated picnic area in front of the movie screen for those who walk or bike to the movie. Food trucks will be on-site for dinner, and you can bring lawn games to keep the kids entertained before the show starts at sunset. This event is free to the public, but donations are accepted.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, June 27: “Transformers”
Friday, July 25: “Speed Racer”
Friday, Aug. 15: “A Minecraft Movie”
Dive-In Movies at Wild Waves
Location: Wild Waves Theme Park, 36201 Enchanted Pkwy. S., Federal Way
Washington’s largest theme and water park is also a summer movie night destination. Watch family-friendly favorites on a large LED screen from the wave pool or a pool lounger on Thursday nights this summer. Admission is included with a season pass or single-day ticket ($39.99–$62.99) to the water park. Use our ultimate Wild Waves guide to make a day of it at the park.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Thursday, July 17: “Mufasa: The Lion King”
Thursday, July 24: “Encanto” (sing-along version)
Thursday, July 31: “Inside Out 2”
Thursday, Aug. 7: “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”
Thursday, Aug. 14: “Minions”
Thursday, Aug. 21: “The Goonies”
More family summer fun: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago and was updated most recently on June 25, 2025, by ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, with outdoor movies playing this summer.
