BURST
Summer outdoor movie nights started taking off around Metro Vancouver as we eased our way out of pandemic lockdowns, and they seem to be here to stay. Many Lower Mainland communities and B.C. tourist spots are joining in the fun, often sponsored by local businesses and mostly free to audiences.
Movie showtimes in most communities are at dusk, meaning they start a little earlier as summer wanes — though you might want to set up your lawn chair or blanket earlier than sundown to ensure you get good seats and, in some spots, to take in the pre-show entertainment on offer.
Here are some of the summer movie series planned this summer around Metro and beyond:
VANCOUVER
Downtown Vancouver
Hosted by the downtown business improvement association — now branded as simply Downtown Van — free movies return to šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square, the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery, on Thursdays until mid-August. Movies are shown on a 10-metre inflatable screen starting at sundown, with warmups starting at 5 p.m. each evening that include interactive trivia, face painting, dancers and circus performers, DJs and mini golf.
• Thursday, July 3: Bring It On
• Thursday, July 10: The Wild Robot
• Thursday, July 17: Little Women
• Thursday, July 24: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
• Thursday, July 31: The Wizard of Oz
• Thursday, Aug. 7: Wicked
• Thursday, Aug. 14: Inception
For more on the downtown movie nights, go to dtvan.ca/summermovienights .
Stanley Park
Billing itself as the “largest outdoor movie series in Canada,” Evo Car Share sponsors another year of summer cinema on Tuesday nights in Stanley Park. Movies are shown on a 40-foot screen in Ceperley Meadow, at Second Beach, with hundreds of free seats on the lawn available on a first-come, first-serve basis. With a reservation , you can get priority seating on Adirondack chairs near the front.
• Tuesday, July 8: The Princess Bride
• Tuesday, July 15: The Land Before Time
• Tuesday, July 22: Legally Blonde
• Tuesday, July 29: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Tuesday, Aug. 5:
You choose the movie
• Tuesday, Aug. 12: Top Gun (original)
• Tuesday, Aug. 19: My Best Friend’s Wedding
• Tuesday, Aug. 26: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
For more on the series, go to summercinema.ca .
Vancouver Civic Theatres
VCT’s Summer on šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (the plaza outside Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton St.), includes music on Thursdays, dance parties on Fridays, and free sunset cinema each Wednesday in August. Movies are screened at dusk with a local DJ getting things started each night at 7 p.m. Here’s the lineup:
• Wednesday, Aug. 6: Shrek
• Wednesday, Aug. 13: The Wild Robot
• Wednesday, Aug. 20: Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Wednesday, Aug. 27: Mean Girls
For more information on the series, including the music and dance nights, visit vancouvercivictheatres.com .
SURREY
The City of Surrey is showing three outdoor movies on the great lawn at Clayton Community Centre, 7155 187A St., in July and August. Bring a blanket or chairs and come early for family-friendly activities starting at 7:30 p.m. Movies start at around 9 p.m. Popcorn will be on sale (cash only) and food trucks will be on site. Here’s the lineup :
• Friday, July 4: Inside Out (9 p.m. start)
• Friday, July 25: Encanto (9 p.m. start)
• Friday, Aug. 22: Bolt
LANGLEY
Langley City
The city plans to host a free movie night at Brydon Park, 198th Street and 53rd Avenue, but as of late June, the film had not been announced.
• Friday, July 11: N/A
Langley Township
• Thursday, July 10: Dive-In Movie Night at The Outdoor Experience water park, The Wild Robot (bring a floatie and take in the movie, 7 p.m. start)
• Friday, July 25: Outdoor Movie at McClughan Park, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (9:15 p.m. start)
• Thursday, Aug. 7: Dive-In Movie Night at The Outdoor Experience water park, Moana 2 (7 p.m. start)
• Friday, Aug. 15: Outdoor Movie at McClughan Park, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (8:45 p.m. start)
• Friday, Aug. 29: Outdoor Movie at Routley Park, Migration (8:30 p.m.)
• Saturday, Aug. 30: Outdoor Movie at Aldergrove Athletic Park, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (8:30 p.m.)
• Sunday, Aug. 31: Outdoor Movie at James Hill Park, Kung Fu Panda (8:30 p.m.)
For the complete summer lineup, which also includes concerts, family, youth and theme nights at parks around the township, go to tol.ca .
BURNABY
The City of Burnaby hosts free summer cinema at two locations, Civic Square on Friday nights and Confederation Park on Saturdays. Bring blankets and chairs and some snacks and enjoy. Here’s the lineup :
Civic Square, 6100 Willingdon Ave. (movies start at about 8:30 p.m.)
• Friday, Aug. 15: A Minecraft Movie
• Friday, Aug. 22: The Tiger’s Apprentice
• Friday, Aug. 29: If
Confederation Park, 250 Willingdon Ave. (movies start at about 8:15 p.m.)
• Saturday, Aug. 16: Dog Man
• Saturday, Aug. 23: Moana 2
NORTH VANCOUVER
The Polygon Gallery on the North Shore waterfront (101 Carrie Cates Court) returns on summer Thursdays with a Deckchair Cinema series highlighting sci-fi films in 2025. Thanks to sponsors Rogers and BMO, admission is by donation and includes popcorn and admission to the gallery exhibit; music and concessions start at 7 p.m. followed by movies at dusk. Here is the schedule :
• Thursday, July 3: Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (film starts 9:15 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 10: Universal Language (9:15 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 17: Gravity (9 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 24: Spaceballs (9 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 31: The Fifth Element (8:45 p.m.)
• Thursday, Aug. 7: Flash Gordon (8:45 p.m.)
• Thursday, Aug. 14: Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan (8:30 p.m.)
• Thursday, Aug. 21: Starman (8:30 p.m.)
• Thursday, Aug. 28: David Lynch’s Dune (8:30 p.m.)
PORT COQUITLAM
PoCo offers family movies at Evergreen Park, 3500 Cedar Dr., on four Saturday nights this summer, thanks to sponsor BMO. Bring snacks and drinks, blankets and lawn chairs. A food truck will be on site July 12 and Aug. 23. The lineup :
• Saturday, July 12: Encanto (9:15 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 26: Twisters (9:15 p.m.)
• Saturday, Aug. 9: The Princess Bride (8:45 p.m.)
• Saturday, Aug. 23: Top Gun: Maverick (8:45 p.m.)
TSAWWASSEN
As part of the Tsawwassen Sun Festival over the August long weekend, a free outdoor movie is being shown at Southlands Grange, 6313 Market Ave., Delta. Food and treats trucks, popcorn and games will be available.
• Saturday, Aug. 2: Trolls: Let’s Band Together (8:45 p.m.)
WHISTLER
Whistler has a summer concert series in Olympic Plaza that kicks off on Canada Day, featuring artists like Sam Roberts Band, 54-40 and Chantal Kreviazuk along with DJ sets. More on those at whistler.ca . There are also movie nights every Wednesday and Saturday. Here’s the lineup:
• Wednesday, July 2: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Saturday, July 5: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Wednesday, July 9: Grease
• Saturday, July 12: The Call of the Wild
• Wednesday, July 16: Wayne’s World
• Saturday, July 19: Wayne’s World
• Wednesday, July 23: Bend it Like Beckham
• Saturday, July 26: Bend it Like Beckham
• Wednesday, July 30: Whip It
Do you know of a movie night series in your area that’s not listed here? Send us the details at vantips@postmedia.com .