Your guide to outdoor movies in the Sacramento region this summer
Warm-weather days mean cool movie nights in the Sacramento area. We found over a dozen places around the region hosting outdoor screenings of films—from classics like Moby Dick to cult faves like The Princess Bride and family-friendly flicks like Big Hero 6—in the coming months. So grab your picnic blanket, pack some snacks, and get ready to see a cluster of Hollywood stars under the stars.
COURTYARD CLASSIC FILM SERIES (Downtown Sacramento)
The Crocker Art Museum draws inspiration from one of its current exhibits, "Armin Hansen: The Artful Voyage," for this series featuring vintage seafaring films hosted by local movie critic Matias Bombal.
• June 4 Houseboat
• July 2 Moby Dick
• Aug. 6 Jaws
• Sept. 3 Sea Hawk
$5-$8. 7 p.m. seating; 8:30 p.m. screening. Crocker Art Museum’s E. Kendell Davis Courtyard. 216 O Street. 808-7000. crockerartmuseum.org
FRIDAY MOONLIGHT MOVIES (Rancho Cordova)
At this superhero-themed series at Village Green Park, movie-goers can snack on kettle and caramel corn from Art of Popcorn and shaved ice from Sweet Treats. For heartier fare, local food trucks like Drewski’s, Fuzion Eatz and Brunch Boys will roll in every week.
• June 5 Superman
• June 12 Batman
• June 19 Spider-Man
• June 26 Iron Man
Free. 7 p.m. seating. 8:30 p.m. screening. Village Green Park. 3141 Bridgeway Dr. Rancho Cordova. 851-8700. cityofranchocordova.org
NATOMAS AT NITE: MOVIES IN THE PARK (North Natomas)
Complimentary bike valet, as well as water and popcorn, are a few of the highlights of this movie night series in North Natomas hosted by Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby.
• June 5 Big Hero 6
• July 10 The Lorax
• Aug. 1 A Bug’s Life
Free. 8 p.m. North Natomas Regional Park. 4989 Natomas Blvd. angeliqueashby.com
EVENING IN THE PARK (Rocklin)
Get to Johnson-Springview Park in Rocklin early to catch or participate in a Family Feud-style game show before screenings.
• June 12 Penguins of Madagascar
• June 26 The Princess Bride
• July 17 Big Hero 6
Free. 6:30 p.m. game show; 7 p.m. screening. Johnson-Springview Park. 5460 5th St. Rocklin. 625-5000. rocklin.ca.us
WESTFIELD SUMMERTIME CINEMA (Roseville)
Youngsters can have their faces painted and commission a balloon animal buddy while parents grab dinner from Westfield Galleria at Roseville staples like Krush Burger and Gordon Biersch.
• June 12 Big Hero 6
• June 26 Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
• July 10 Back to the Future
• July 24 The Goonies
• Aug. 7 Paddington
Free. 7:30 p.m. seating; 8:30 p.m. screening. Westfield Galleria at Roseville. 1151 Galleria Blvd. Roseville. 787-2000. westfield.com
MOVIE IN THE PARK (Roseville)
Find eats like pizza, teriyaki, popcorn and snow cones, as well as activities like tie-dying T-shirts prior to settling in for family favorites on the big screen in the following parks around Roseville.
• June 13 Enchanted (Cresthaven Park, 401 Community Dr.)
• June 27 Maleficent (Buljan Park, 150 Hallissy Dr.)
• July 11 Dolphin Tale (Royer Park, 130 Park Dr.)
• July 25 Big Hero 6 (H C Elliott Park, 1421 Cushendall Dr.)
• Aug. 8 Finding Nemo (George Goto Park, 1851 Oak Crest Dr.)
• Aug. 22 Toy Story 3 (Veteran's Memorial Park North, 10021 Crocker Ranch Rd.)
Free. 7:30 p.m. seating. Various locations. rcona.org
MOVIES IN THE PARK (Fair Oaks)
The Wonderful Outdoor World bus will get the family pumped prior to screenings at Village Park in Fair Oaks with games like dodgeball and flag football, or activities for the more artistically inclined like sidewalk-chalk drawing and jewelry making.
• June 19 Box Trolls
• July 17 Planes, Fire & Rescue
• Aug. 14 Big Hero 6
Free. 8:45 p.m. Village Park. 4238 Main Street. Fair Oaks. fairoakspark.org
SUMMER MOVIES AT THE PARK (Arden-Arcade)
Catch pre-movie cartoons like Tom and Jerry Tales or make a splash at the two “dive-in” screenings, where $2.50 buys a ticket for an evening swim during this Arden-Arcade film series.
• June 19 The Great Outdoors (Howe Park, 2201 Cottage Way)
• July 17 The Lego Movie (Seely Park, 3000 Pope Ave.)
• July 3 The Goonies (“Dive-In” at Cottage Pool, 3097 Cottage Way)
• Aug. 7 Big Hero 6 (“Dive-In” at Cottage Pool, 3097 Cottage Way)
• Aug. 21 Hook (Bohemian Park, 3131 Wright St. and Yellowstone)
Free ($2.50 for dive-ins). 8:30 p.m. pre-movie cartoons; 9 p.m. screening. 927-3802. fecrecpark.com
CLIPS BEER AND FILM TOUR (Southside Park)
July 24 New Belgium Brewing Company will screen an evening of short films about adventure, biking and beer for the Sacramento stop of this sixth annual national film tour, which will be held at Southside Park. The Colorado-based brewery will also pour tastings of its beers, including classics like Fat Tire, 1554 and Ranger IPA, as well as suds from its small-batch Lips of Faith series like Eric’s Ale, La Folie and Film Noir Stout, which is a chocolate milk stout brewed specifically for the tour. Free ($1.50 per 3-oz. taste). 7 p.m. doors open; 9 p.m. screening. Southside Park. 6th and T streets. newbelgium.com
SCREEN ON THE GREEN (South Natomas and River Park)
Bring blankets and lawn chairs, munch on complimentary popcorn while watching the hit animated movie Big Hero 6 at these two movie nights hosted by City Councillman Jeff Harris and Pops in the Park.
• Aug. 28 Big Hero 6 (South Natomas Community Park, 2901 Truxel Rd.)
• Aug. 29 Big Hero 6 (Glen Hall Park, Sandburg and Carlson drives)
Free. 8:15 p.m. screening. 808-5240. Various locations. sacscreenonthegreen.com
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