Photo:
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 8:30 p.m. There will be food trucks on-site.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Wednesday, June 26: “The Goonies”
Wednesday, July 10: “The Breakfast Club”
Wednesday, July 17: “The Color Purple” (1984)
Wednesday, Aug. 7: “Dirty Dancing”
Center City Cinema at Lake Union Park
Location: Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle
Need an afternoon movie option on a weekend? Lake Union Park delivers.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Saturday, July 6 at 3:00 p.m.: “A Bug’s Life”
Thursday, August 29 at 8:30 p.m.: “Jaws”
Center City Cinema at Albert Davis Park
Location: Albert Davis Park, 12526 27th Ave. N.E., Seattle
Movies begin at dusk (8 p.m.).
Outdoor movie lineup:
Thursday, July 18: “Wall-E”
Thursday, July 25: “The Lorax”
Center City Cinema at Occidental Square
Location: Occidental Square, 117 S. Washington St., Seattle
Movies begin at 5 p.m.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Saturday, July 20: “Kung Fu Panda 4”
Saturday, July 27: “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbird & Snakes”
Center City Cinema at Ballard Commons Park
Location: Ballard Commons Park, 5701 22nd Ave. N.W., Seattle
Ballard Commons Park recently unveiled its new playground this year, along with community events all summer long. Movies start at 7:30 p.m. There will be food trucks on site.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Thursday, Aug. 1: “Soul”
Thursday, Aug. 8: “The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
Thursday, Aug. 15: “Wonka”
Thursday, Aug. 22: “Cars”
Center City Cinema at Hing Hay Park
Location: Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle
Movies begin at dusk (7–11 p.m.).
Outdoor movie lineup:
Saturday, Aug. 3: “Polite Society”
Saturday, Aug. 10: “Raya and the Last Dragon”
Saturday, Aug. 17: “The Donut King”
Saturday, Aug. 24: “Lilo & Stitch”
Center City Cinema at Westlake Park
Location: Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., Seattle
Movies begin at 5 p.m.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Tuesday, Aug. 27: “The Little Mermaid” (2023)
Saturday, Aug. 31: “Wonka”
Center City Cinema at Lake City Mini Park
Location: Lake City Mini Park, 12363 Lake City Way N.E., Seattle
Movies start at 8:00 p.m.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Saturday, Sept. 7: “Barbie”
Saturday, Sept. 14: “Strange World”
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. 2: “Barbie”
Friday, Aug. 9: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Friday, Aug. 23: “Elemental”
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.). Note that this series is more teen- and adult-oriented.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 26: “The Princess Bride”
Friday, Aug. 2: “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Friday, Aug. 9: “Dune” (1984)
Friday, Aug. 16: “Singles”
Friday, Aug. 23: “The Color Purple, Musical”
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 12: “Trolls Band Together”
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 19: “Kung Fu Panda 4”
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.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 26: “Under the Boardwalk”
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.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, Aug. 2: “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”
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 Docks 7, but you’ll want to come ashore to be able to see the movie screen.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 26, at 9:10 p.m.: “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”
Friday, Aug. 2, at 8:55 p.m.: “The Boys in the Boat’”
Friday, Aug. 9, at 8:45 p.m.: “The Parent Trap” (1998)
Friday, Aug. 16, at 8:35 p.m.: “Devotion”
Friday, Aug. 23, at 8:20 p.m.: “Elemental”
Friday, Aug. 30, at 8:10 p.m.: “Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom”
Marysville Movie in the Park
Location: Jennings Memorial Park, 6915 Armar Rd., Marysville
Presented by Marysville Parks, Culture and Recreation, the 2024 Outdoor Movies Series runs for five Saturdays in July and August. Movies begin at dusk, but you’ll want to get there early to snag a great spot.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Saturday, July 20 at 9:15 p.m.: “Field of Dreams”
Saturday, July 27, at 9:10 p.m.: “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
Saturday, Aug. 3, at 9 p.m.: “Barbie”
Saturday, Aug. 10 at 8:45 p.m.: “Trolls Band Together”
Saturday, Aug. 17 at 8:35 p.m.: “Elemental”
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 for free. Movies begin at dusk, usually around 8 or 8:30 p.m.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Thursday, August 8: “Moana”
Thursday, Aug. 15: “Top Gun”
Thursday, Aug. 22: “The Goonies”
Skyway Outdoor Cinema
Location: Skyway Park, 12010 71st Ave. S., Skyway
Skyway Outdoor Cinema is back this year in a new venue — Skyway Park — giving moviegoers 23 acres to spread out their picnic blankets, pick up dinner from local food vendors, and enjoy pre-show entertainment and activities.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, Aug.16: “Barbie”
Friday, Aug. 23: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Bellevue’s Movies in the Park
Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 N.E. 4th 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 16: “Moana”
Tuesday, July 23: “DC League of Super-Pets”
Tuesday, July 30: “The Mighty Ducks”
Tuesday, August 6: “Back to the Future III”
Tuesday, August 13: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone”
Tuesday, August 20: “High School Musical”
Crossroads Movies in the Park
Location: Crossroads Park,16140 NE 8th 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, Aug. 1: “The Sword in the Stone”
Thursday, Aug. 8: “Space Jam”
Thursday, Aug. 15: “Elemental”
Thursday, Aug. 22: “Hook”
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 10: “Back to the Future”
Tuesday, July 16: “10 Things I Hate About You”
Wednesday, July 24: “Shrek”
Wednesday, July 31: “Barbie”
Wednesday, Aug. 7: “Pitch Perfect”
Tuesday, Aug. 13: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
Tuesday, Aug. 20: “Encanto”
Wednesday, Aug. 28: “The Princess Bride”
South King County and Tacoma area
Friday Night Flicks in Auburn – Lea Hill Park
Location: Lea Hill Park, 31693 124th Ave. S.E., Auburn
Friday Night Flick in Auburn promises fun for the whole family, but especially Super Mario fans.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, July 26 at 9:10 p.m.: “The Super Mario Bros Movie”
Friday Night Flicks in Auburn – Sunset Park
Location: Sunset Park, 1420 69th St. S.E., Auburn
Head to Sunset Park for a Disney favorite on a Friday night.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, Aug. 2 at 9 p.m.: “Elemental”
Friday Night Flicks in Auburn – Les Gove Park
Location: Les Gove Park, 910 Ninth St. S.E., Auburn
While the movie starts closer to 9 p.m. at Les Gove Park, you may want to go early for the Prom Date Mixtape concert or the Almost 5K Poker Fun Run.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Friday, Aug. 9 at 8:50 p.m.: “The Wizard of Oz”
Covington Outdoor Family Movie
Location: Covington Community Park Playfield, 17649 SE 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, Aug. 2 at 8:45 p.m.: “Jumanji” (the original)
Friday, Aug. 9 at 8:30 p.m.: “The Notebook”
Friday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m.: “The Little Mermaid” (live action)
Friday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m.: “The Hunger Games: Songbirds and Snakes”
Motors & Movies Series at LCM
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 28: “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”
Friday, July 12: “Back to the Future: Part II”
Friday, Aug. 9: “Kung Fu Panda 4”
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 to the water park. Use our ultimate Wild Waves guide to make a day of it at the park.
Outdoor movie lineup:
Thursday, June 20: “Wonka”
Thursday, June 27: “Trolls Band Together”
Thursday, July 4: “E.T.”
Thursday, July 11: “Elemental”
Thursday, July 18: “Tangled”
Thursday, July 25: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”
Thursday, August 1: “Moana”
Thursday, Aug. 8: “Wish”
Thursday, August 15: “Super Pets”
Thursday, Aug. 22: “Kung Fu Panda 4”
Thursday, Aug. 29: “Migration”
More family summer fun: |
