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Free Outdoor Summer Movies Around Seattle

Summer 2022 free outdoor movie guide for Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound

Published on: July 20, 2022

People relax in the grass at a park watching a free outdoor summer movie for kids and families
Photo:
Edmonds Outdoor Movie Night

Bedtime is practically a lost cause in summer anyway, right? Why not take your family and your blankets or low-back chairs and enjoy an outdoor movie on a warm summer evening? And best of all, nearly all of these movies are free.

A note on movie times: Most movie times are listed as "at dusk" when it starts to get dark. Dusk is typically about 20–30 minutes after sunset. For example, sunset in Seattle on Saturday, July 23, is at 8:55 p.m. (thanks, Google); expect an outdoor movie this weekend to begin around 9:15 to 9:30 p.m. Start times of movies get earlier later in the summer.

Seattle-area outdoor movies

Center City Cinema, downtown Seattle

Movies show in downtown-area parks, including Cascade Playground, Hing Hay Park and Freeway Park, on select Friday and Saturday nights through Aug. 27. Pre-movie activities start at 7 p.m. and the movies begin at dusk. 

Details: Downtown-area Seattle parks (check website for locations). Select Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 27. Free.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies

A selection of PG and PG-13 movies will be shown in the Hotwire Coffee courtyard on Saturdays, starting at 8:30 p.m. Except the first show, Saturday, July 23, will screen at awesome Camp Long! And '80s classic "The Goonies" kicks off the series there.

Details: Camp Long, July 23; then 4410 California S.W., July 30–Aug. 20. Free.

Movies at the Mural, Seattle Center

Seattle Center’s outdoor summer movie series features a giant screen near the Space Needle at the Mural Amphitheatre. Picnics encouraged, no pets. Movies show on Saturdays at dusk (around 9 p.m.). Line-up highlights include "The Princess Bride" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings." Note that this series is more teen- and adult-oriented.

Details: Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle. Saturdays July 30–Aug. 27. Free. 

Movies at the Mural Seattle outdoor summer movies
Movies at the Mural at Seattle Center

Three Dollar Bill Outdoor Cinema, Capitol Hill

Three Dollar Bill Cinema is a nonprofit with several programs supporting LGBTQ films. Arrive early for seating, preshow entertainment and concessions opening at 7 p.m. Movies start when it gets dark, by 9 p.m. Turn up for "The Birdcage" (Aug. 14) and "Purple Rain" (Aug. 28).

Details: See the website for locations in Seattle. Aug. 14 and 28. Free.

Edmonds Outdoor Movie Nights

Movies begin at dusk, refreshments for sale. Locations vary by date.

Details: Fridays at dusk through Aug. 5, location varies. July 15, "Encanto" at Frances Anderson Center Playfield; July 22, "The Mighty Ducks" Seaview Park; July 29, "Luca" at Hickman Park; Aug. 5, "Night at the Museum" at City Park.

Sail-In Cinema, 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 6 (west end) and 7 and a radio frequency is provided so you can listen to the movie from your boat. Movie start times vary by date, so be sure to check the website before heading out. 

Details: Boxcar Park, Friday evenings through Aug.19. Free.

Eastside outdoor movies

Skyway Outdoor Cinema, Renton

On Fridays in August catch blockbuster movies like "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and "Encanto" at this free family series. Movies play behind the Skyway 7-Eleven on Renton Avenue South in the US Bank parking lot. It's cash only for concessions but you can hit the US Bank ATM if you're hungry and cash-less. Concessions and food trucks open at 7 p.m., the pre-show begins at 8 p.m. and the movies start at 9 p.m.

Details:12702 Renton Ave. S., Seattle. Behind 7-Eleven in the US Bank parking lot. Fridays, Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Free.

Downtown Movies in the Park, Bellevue

Head to Downtown Park in Bellevue on Tuesday evenings to watch family-friendly movies (all rated PG) on a 40-foot movie screen. Check the website to see the fun line up of movies, including "Sing 2" and "The Lego Movie" (I bet you had almost gotten "Everything is Awesome" out of your head, hadn't you?) Pre-movie entertainment starts at 7:30 p.m., movies begin at dusk.

Details: Downtown Park, Tuesday evenings through Aug. 23.

Crossroads Movies in the Park, Bellevue

This four-week movie series takes place on the lawn at Crossroads Park on Thursday evenings in August. Family-focused offerings are "Onward" (Aug. 4), "Encanto" (Aug. 11), "A Goofie Movie" (Aug. 18) and "Incredibles 2" (Aug. 25). Family activities start at 7:30 p.m., movies start at dusk.

Details: Crossroads Park. Thursdays, Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Free.

A view of people sitting on the lawn at Crossroads Park in Bellevue watching a movie outdoors on a big screen on a summer evening
Crossroads Movies in the Park

South Sound and South King County area

Friday Night Flick, Auburn

Live entertainment and outdoor movies make for a fun night out in Auburn! The three movies on the docket this season are "Sing 2," "Encanto" and "Remember the Titans."

Details: Lea Hill Park, Friday, July 29; Sunset Park, Friday, Aug. 5; Les Gove Park, Friday, Aug. 12. Free.

Outdoor Family Movies, 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! 

Details: Covington Community Park Playfield, Fridays in July and August. Start times vary by date, see the website for more detail. 

Summer Drive-in Movies at LeMay, Tacoma 

Select Saturdays this summer, head to America's Car Museum for drive-in movies on the Haub Family Field. Parking for the show starts 5 p.m., with showtime at dusk (around 9 p.m.). Watch the 40-foot screen from your car or from a blanket or chair. This event is free to the public, but donations are accepted.

Details: LeMay – America’s Car Museum, 2702 East D. St., Tacoma. Saturdays, July 29, Aug. 5 and 19. Free. 

Bonus: not free, but fun! 

Outdoor Movies at Marymoor Park, Redmond

Buy treats from food trucks or bring your own — and well-behaved dogs are welcome, too! Entertainment, activities, trivia and prize raffles. Event entry is 90 minutes before the scheduled event, movies begin at dusk Wednesdays and Thursdays, rain or shine. Some movie highlights include "Sing 2" and "Back to the Future."

Details: Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E., Redmond. Select Wednesdays and Thursdays through July 28. $30 per carload.

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