Outdoor movie watching is an experience that induces a wave of nostalgia. Maybe your family used to pile into the 1950s Cadillac and drive to the nearest drive-in theatre with plenty of blankets and snacks. Or maybe you were the kind of family that set up lawn chairs in the back of the pick-up truck for an outdoor movie screening.
Thankfully, although there aren’t many permanent drive-in theatres left nowadays, there are still places to catch a flick outdoors. Here are a few of the outdoor movie screening events happening in Calgary this summer.
Movies with a View
When: July 18, August 14 and September 12, 2024
High Park, a rooftop park in downtown Calgary, will be the site of a cool outdoor movie series this summer. The Movies with a View series features one outdoor movie screening per month from June to September. Paris is Burning screened in June, while upcoming screenings include Asteroid City on July 18, Chungking Express on August 14 and Everything Everywhere All at Once on September 12. Admission is free, and you can buy non-alcoholic drinks and popcorn at the screenings.
High Park, 340 10 Ave. S.W., beltlineyyc.ca
Bowness Movie in the Park
When: July 20, 2024
Don’t miss this outdoor screening of Shrek in Bowness. Before the movie, shop at the artisan market and get a snack from a local food truck, then settle in to watch the film at 9 p.m.
Bowness Community Association, 7904 43 Ave. N.W., mybowness.com
Summer on 17th
When: Movie screenings on July 27 and 28, 2024
The 17th Avenue BIA’s Summer on 17th programming is back, and it’s celebrating the ’80s with a market, a retro dance party and outdoor movie screenings during the last weekend of July (July 26 to 28). Catch Ghostbusters or Sixteen Candles on July 27, or swing by on July 28 to see Footloose or Pretty in Pink. The movie screenings are free and there will be snacks from Made by Marcus and Golden Bell Restaurant available for purchase.
Tomkins Park, 17 Avenue and 8 Street S.W., 17thave.ca
Heritage Park Retro Drive-In Movies
When: August 2, 3, 4, 13, 20 and 27
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Heritage Park is hosting a series of drive-in movie nights. Each night features two movie screenings, and the movie options include Jaws, The Birds, Goonies, E.T., The Mummy, Raiders of the Lost Ark, National Lampoon’s Vacation, The Great Outdoors, 16 Candles, The Breakfast Club, Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick. There will also be a concession menu available for purchase, with options like burgers and hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, mini doughnuts and more.
Heritage Park, parking lot B, heritagepark.ca
Drive In Movie and Fireworks
When: August 7, 2024
Southcentre Mall is hosting several events to mark its 50th anniversary, including a drive-in movie and fireworks night. After a 10 p.m. fireworks show by the team behind GlobalFest, attendees can watch Back to the Future from the comfort of their cars in the mall’s southeast parking lot. Ticket sales support The Calgary Food Bank.
Southcentre Mall, southeast parking lot, southcentremall.com
Trico Centre’s 4th Annual Movie in the Park
When: August 11, 2024
This movie night, which will be screening The Super Mario Bros. Movie, is hosted by Trico Centre for Family Wellness on the centre’s ball diamond. Admission is free for members, or you can pay $20 for a family or $5 for a single admission. Be sure to register online in advance.
Trico Centre for Family Wellness, tricocentre.ca
Movie on The Rise
When: August 22, 2024
Movie on The Rise is back at St. Patrick’s Island with a sweet screening of Wonka that you can watch from the hill. The night begins at 8 p.m. and the movie will start at 9:15 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Island, evexperience.com
WSCR Community Association’s Movie Night in the Park
When: September 2024 (exact date TBA)
Hosted by the WSCR Community Association, this outdoor movie screening of Back to the Future ll will feature food trucks, live music, trivia games, a talent show and prize draws. You can register online for free in August.
West Springs Park, corner of 73rd Street and Westpoint Gardens S.W., wscr.ca
Coach Hill Patterson Heights Community Association’s Movie in the Park
When: September 6, 2024
Head to Prominence Park for an outdoor movie screening hosted by the Coach Hill Patterson Heights Community Association. The final movie choice hasn’t been announced yet. Admission is free.
Prominence Park, chph.ca
Movie in the Park
When: September 13, 2024
The summer movie fun extends into September with the return of this annual Movie in the Park event in Sunalta. Bring a blanket (and buy some mini doughnuts) before watching the free movie at sunset. Cast your online vote for which movie you’d like to watch until August 18. This year’s choices are The Avengers, Babe, Chronicles of Narnia, Elemental, Legally Blonde, Lilo and Stitch, The Lorax, Princess Diaries, Treasure Island or Twilight.
Royal Sunalta Park, 1737 14 Ave. S.W., sunalta.net
[Note: This story was updated on July 16, 2024]