Summer travel and vacations ... in this economy?
Ditch reality, if only for a few hours, with outdoor movie screenings — a chance to experience some Hollywood magic without breaking the bank.
So grab a blanket or chair and some snacks to enjoy this warm-weather rite of passage with family, friends and neighbors.
But what’s playing and where? Here’s your guide to outdoor films in the Baltimore area in the coming months.
Baltimore
Flicks From the Hill
- American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway
A local favorite for years, the American Visionary Art Museum’s free summer movies series returns in July on Thursdays with family-friendly fantasy selections like Sidney Lumet’s “The Wiz” and “A Wrinkle in Time.”
Beforehand, attendees can check out the Federal Hill museum for free (5-9 p.m.), along with activities like a dance workshop with Dance Baltimore. Movies begin at 8:45 p.m. on the large green space on the Federal Hill side of the museum’s Jim Rouse Visionary Center building.
Attendees can bring their own grub or purchase some from on-site food trucks. In the case of bad weather, the screenings move inside to the third floor of the Jim Rouse Visionary Center.
July 9: “The Wiz”
July 16: “A Wrinkle in Time”
July 23: “Men in Black”
July 30: “Labyrinth”
Rhythm and Reels
- Various locations
Spend an evening at the city’s various parks at this annual series hosted by the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Department. Some screenings will be (sort of) silent — meaning attendees will be provided wireless headphones to hear the audio. Purchase tickets here.
June 27: “Sinners” at Canton Waterfront Park ($10.96, silent screening), 3001 Boston St.
July 17: “Freakier Friday” at War Memorial Plaza (free), between City Hall (100 N. Holliday St.) and the War Memorial Building (101 N. Gay St.)
Aug. 7: “Just Wright” at Irvin Luckman Park (free), 2809 Glen Ave.
Aug. 22: “Wicked: For Good” at Canton Waterfront Park ($10.96, silent screening)
Sept. 26: “Dirty Dancing” at Canton Waterfront Park ($10.96, silent screening)
Oct. 2: “Jurassic World Rebirth” at Irvington Park (free)
Oct. 23: “The Craft” at Canton Waterfront Park ($10.96, silent screening)
AREPI & the Sound Garden’s Summer Film Series
- El Jardín, 1616 Thames St.
In Fells Point, El Jardín — aka the parking lot shared by record store Sound Garden and Venezuelan street food restaurant AREPI — will again host its annual film series on Tuesdays in June.
Naturally, the selections are all known for their memorable soundtracks. Bring your own chair and indulge in some on-site beer and arepas for sale. Movies begin at dusk.
June 2: “The Breakfast Club”
June 9: “The Big Lebowski”
June 16: “Empire Records”
June 23: ”Purple Rain”
June 30: “Dazed and Confused”
Baltimore Peninsula
- The Lawn, 201 E. Cromwell St.
The South Baltimore neighborhood will host monthly free movies on The Lawn, the green space next to Rye Street Tavern. In honor of the maritime celebration Sail250, the June 26 screening will be the oceanic sci-fi adventure “Pacific Rim” at dusk. Keep an eye on Baltimore Peninsula’s events page for future screening announcements.
Baltimore County
Screen on the Green
- Various locations
Starting in July, Baltimore County Recreation and Parks’ free outdoor movie series is back with recent kid-friendly hits such as “A Minecraft Movie” and the animated sports comedy “Goat.” Activities start at 6 p.m., and movies begin at 7 p.m.
July 10: “A Minecraft Movie” at Sollers Point Multipurpose Center (323 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk)
July 17: “How to Train Your Dragon” at Dundalk Heritage Park (2717 Playfield St., Dundalk)
July 26: “The Lion King” at Pikesville Armory (640 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville)
Aug. 9: “Jurassic World Rebirth” at Oregon Ridge Nature Center (13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville)
Aug. 14: “Soul” at Halethorpe Community Center (1900 Northeast Ave., Halethorpe)
Aug. 21: “Goat” at Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum (300 Oella Ave., Catonsville)
Aug. 28: “Elio” at Cox’s Point Park (820 Riverside Drive, Essex)
Bengies Drive-In Theatre
- 3417 Eastern Blvd., Middle River
An outdoor movies list wouldn’t be complete without this local favorite, which has been open since 1956. Open through late fall, Bengies boasts the country’s largest outdoor movie theater screen at 52 feet high and 120 feet wide. The current movies change often so check out Bengies’ website to see what’s playing.
Harford County
Summer Movie Nights
- Shamrock Park, 39 N. Hickory Ave., Bel Air
Every third Friday from June to August, bring the kids to Shamrock Park for face painting, live entertainment and a free outdoor movie. Food trucks like Odell’s, Deli-ish and more will be on hand as well.
June 19: “The Princess and the Frog”
July 17: “Zootopia 2”
Aug. 21: “A Minecraft Movie”
Howard County
The Wine Bin’s Summer Movie Nights
- 8390 Main St., Ellicott City
It doesn’t get much better than wine, charcuterie and a free flick. Ellicott City’s the Wine Bin hosts its movie night every Saturday through early September with a mix of classics (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) and recent releases (“Song Sung Blue”).
Come early for live music and buy some libations and snacks — with popcorn proceeds donated to the local nonprofit Voices for Children, which supports abused and neglected kids in court.
Movies begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
June 6: “Dial M for Murder”
June 13: “The Bourne Ultimatum”
June 20: “Dirty Dancing”
June 27: “Yesterday”
July 11: “Superman”
July 18: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
July 25: “The Breakfast Club”
Aug. 1: “Monsters Inc.”
Aug. 8: “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” (8:30 p.m.)
Aug. 15: “Casino Royale” (8:30 p.m.)
Aug. 22: “The Princess Bride” (8:30 p.m.)
Aug. 29: “Song Sung Blue” (8:30 p.m.)
Sept. 5: “The Dark Knight” (8 p.m.)
Lakefront Live Movie Nights
- Columbia Lakefront, 10275 Wincopin Circle, Columbia
Hosted by local movie fan Mr. B, this annual free series allows spectators to enjoy a family movie by downtown Columbia’s 27-acre Lake Kittamaqundi. Movies start at dusk, around 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
June 5: “Lilo & Stitch”
June 26: “Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (8:30 p.m.)
July 1: “Hamilton”
July 10: “Wicked”
July 11: “Wicked: For Good”
July 17: “Goat”
July 24: “The Mitchells vs. the Machines”
July 31: “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”
Aug. 7: “Zootopia”
Aug. 8: “Zootopia 2”
Aug. 21: “Freakier Friday”
Aug. 28: “Elio”
Sept. 4: “How to Train Your Dragon”
Movie Nights in the Park
- Color Burst Park, 6100 Merriweather Drive, Columbia
Technically, these free movies at Color Burst Park in Columbia’s Merriweather District are largely being shown in the fall but we’ll cross our fingers for extended warm weather. Pre-movie activities, including a dance party, start at 6 p.m. while the movies begin at 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 18: “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”
Sept. 25: “Masters of the Universe”
Oct. 2: “Toy Story 5”
Oct. 9: “Moana”
Anne Arundel County
‘Hamilton’ for America 250
- Friday, July 3, 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- St. John’s College, Annapolis Campus (upper field of back campus), 60 College Ave.
To celebrate the country’s 250th birthday, St. John’s College will host a screening of the historical musical “Hamilton,” the Broadway hit about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, on the lawn. Before the movie, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s brass quintet will perform. Festivities begin at 8:30 p.m.
For more summer fun ideas, check out The Banner’s festival guide.
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