Your 2025 Guide to Outdoor Movie Screenings in the Sacramento Area
Break out the lawn chairs and the popcorn, bring a light jacket for when the Delta Breeze rolls in, and cozy up with your friends and family for some outdoor movie screenings this summer (and a few in the fall, too). Whether you’re in the mood for classics like The Goonies and Big, recent blockbusters like Wicked, or animated family fare like Moana 2, these grassy lawns, museum courtyards, and even swimming pools are the place to be.
Movies Off the Wall at the Crocker Art Museum (Photo courtesy of the museum)
Movies Off the Wall (Downtown)
This summer, the Crocker Art Museum is sculpting a musical trifecta so uplifting, how could we not sing along? The museum’s courtyard will transform into a plein air theater on select Thursday nights, where wine, beer, snacks, and a DJ set inspired by each film will help pass the time until dusk. And if you’d like an extra shot of fine art with your flick, your ticket also grants you entrance to the museum itself, which is open until 9 p.m. every Thursday, so get there early for an even more immersive artistic experience.
June 19 – Hairspray
July 17 – Mamma Mia!
Aug. 21 – Wicked
$8 members, $16 nonmembers. Courtyard opens at 7 p.m., movies start at sundown. Crocker Art Museum. 216 O St. crockerart.org
Drake’s Barnflix (West Sacramento)
Drake’s Brewing Co. at The Barn is firing up its riverside projector the first Wednesday of every month from now into the fall. No outside food or drink is allowed, but with pizza on hand and beer on tap, you’ll have plenty of fare to nosh while you watch.
June 4 – Inside Out 2
July 2 – The Goonies
Aug. 6 – Dodgeball
Sept.3 – The Fall Guy
Oct. 1 – It
Oct. 15 – Hocus Pocus
Free. Movies start shortly after sunset. Drake’s: The Barn. 985 Riverfront St. West Sacramento. drinkdrakes.com
Friday Moonlight Movies (Rancho Cordova)
Each Friday this June, Rancho Cordova’s Village Green Park is rounding the bases with a “Summer of Sports” line-up. And if you work up an appetite, each night features a new food truck, starting with Gyro Stop on June 6.
June 6 – The Mighty Ducks
June 13 – The Sandlot
June 20 – Space Jam
June 27 – Turbo
Free. Food trucks open by 7:45 p.m., movies start at 8:30 p.m. The Village Green. 3141 Bridgeway Dr. Rancho Cordova. cordovacouncil.org
Float-In Movie Nights (South Sacramento)
Taking to the pool at south Sacramento’s Christine Thompson Aquatic Center, these movie nights always make a splash. Viewers are invited to wade and enjoy the water while watching. Also, both the June 6 and July 18 events are fully themed—”Royal Fairytale” for Wish and “Superheroes” for The Marvels—including an extra hour of fun beforehand with children’s arts and crafts activities, and complimentary ice cream.
June 6 – Wish
June 27 – IF
July 18 – The Marvels
$6-$8. Opening times vary, movies start at sundown. Christine Thompson Aquatic Center. 8025 Waterman Rd. southgaterecandpark.net
Movies in the Park (Arden-Arcade)
Lounging in the grass with the kids is always more fun with the help of a whole summer of family-friendly flicks, each starting as soon as the sun sets to keep those kiddos from staying up too late. Bonus: Each movie is shown with subtitles.
June 6 – Moana 2, starting at 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 1 – The Wild Robot, starting at 8:15 p.m.
Sept. 5 – Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 – A Minecraft Movie, starting at 6:45 p.m.
Free. Movies start at various times. Arden Park. 1000 La Sierra Dr. aprpd.org
Movies Under the Pines (Nevada City)
A special screening of the Tom Hanks classic Big, courtesy of the Nevada City Film Festival, this movie night allows you to bring in your own food and non-alcoholic beverages, but you can purchase wine, beer and tasty treats for sale too. Also, keep an eye out for ice cream, lawn games, and—of course—a large “walking piano” like the one Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia played with their feet in the film.
June 7 – Big
$10 per person or $35 per family of four. Activities start at 7:30 p.m., movie starts at sundown. Pioneer Park. 421 Nimrod St. Nevada City nevadacityfilmfestival.com
Movies Under the Pines in Nevada City (Photo by Haley Wright/Gold Country Photography, courtesy of Nevada City Film Festival)
Movie in the Park (South Sacramento)
The Southgate Recreation & Parks District is transforming four different south Sacramento parks into theaters with a bit of movie magic this summer. While attendees are encouraged to bring their own snacks, each screening will also include crafts and games for the kiddos.
June 12 – Despicable Me 4 (Toby Johnson Park)
June 24 – Harold & The Purple Crayon (Rainbow Mini Park)
July 24 – Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Larry Gury Community Park)
Aug. 7 – Moana 2 (Jimmie R. Yee Park)
Free. Activities start at 6 p.m., movies start at sundown. Various locations. southgaterecandpark.net
Movie Night in the Vines (Clarksburg)
Given the adult beverage setting, this Bogle Family Vineyards film night is strictly for the adults. Each ticket to the 21-and-over event not only gets you a spot for the movie, but also wine tasting beforehand, dinner from the Off the Vine food truck and, of course, popcorn.
June 13 – The Shawshank Redemption
$30. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., movie starts at 8:45 p.m. Bogle Family Vineyards. 37783 Co. Rd. 144. Clarksburg. boglewinery.com
Friday Night Movies (Galt)
Pack a picnic and settle in for a slate of flix hosted by the city of Galt, including relatively new releases like the live-action Snow White and Lilo & Stitch.
June 13 – Paddington in Peru
July 11 – Snow White
August 8 – Cars
September 12 – Lilo & Stitch
Free. Gates open at 6 p.m., movies start at sundown. Veterans Field. 900 Caroline Ave. Galt. cityofgalt.org
Family Movie Night (Folsom)
Each themed around their specific location, Folsom’s trio of free movie nights include exploring the zoo and learning about animals before watching Brother Bear, playing in the sports complex before seeing LeBron James in Space Jam: A New Legacy, and going for a swim before diving into Moana 2.
June 20 – Brother Bear (Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary)
July 18 – Space Jam: A New Legacy (Andy Morin Sports Complex)
Aug. 2 – Moana 2 (Steve Miklos Aquatic Center)
Free. Activities start at 6:30 p.m., movies start at 8:30 p.m. Various locations. folsom.ca.us
Evenings in the Park (Rocklin)
While Rocklin kicked off these lovely evenings back in April, there are still two more to look forward to, with each accompanied by a rotating array of food trucks and some pre-show live music.
Aug. 15 – Moana 2
Oct. 17 – Wicked
Free. Activities start at 6 p.m., movies start at sundown. Quarry Park. 4000 Rocklin Rd. Rocklin. rocklin.ca.us
Movie in the Park (Arden-Arcade)
Screening Pixar’s Inside Out 2, the Mission Oaks Recreation & Park District is inviting us all to explore our emotions. With free popcorn on offer, expect us to be getting most acquainted with Joy.
Aug. 16 – Inside Out 2
Free. Movie starts at sundown. Ashton Park. 4251 Ashton Dr. morpd.com
