Birmingham has been showing movies on the lawn for decades, and this summer is no exception. Get your lawn chairs and picnic blankets ready, because you won’t want to miss watching the cinema under the stars. Whether you’re a romcom lover, an action-movie fan, or you and your kiddos are most excited for a quality family-friendly animated movie, one (or all) of these outdoor movie options will have something for you and your family.
Places to watch:
Alabaster Movie Nights
Bring your lawn chairs and a blanket (plus a little bug repellent!) and settle in for these fun free movies and activities. The movies will begin when it gets dark, usually around 8:15–9 p.m. Here’s the schedule: June 13: Wicked at Alabaster Amphitheatre; June 27: Moana 2 at Patriots Park; July 11: Inside Out 2 at Alabaster Amphitheatre; and July 25: Minecraft 2 at Patriots Park. Learn more on cityofalabaster.com.
City Walk Free Flick Fridays
You know where to find us Friday nights in June… City Walk in downtown Birmingham! The park opens at 6:30 p.m. so you can snag your seat, and the movies start at dusk. Although the movies are free, be sure to secure your spot beforehand by registering on Eventbrite through citywalkbham.com, because they don’t accept walk ups. This year’s movie choices included Despicable Me 4, Moana 2, and Dogman. You can still catch Paw Patrol on June 27.
Friday Nights at Beacon Park
The City of Irondale is celebrating summer with their free “Screen Scene Movie Series.” Have fun playing games with your kids at Beacon Park at 7 p.m., then settle in to watch a movie on your blankets and lawn chairs at dusk. If you missed The Wild Robot on June 20, don’t worry, you can still see Mufasa on July 18. cityofirondaleal.gov
Grand River Drive-In
This drive-in is the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night in Leeds. Rain or shine, the ticket office opens at 5 p.m., and the movies start at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for kids 5–12. Get there early to enjoy local food and let your kids and dogs play at The Shack, The Snack Shack, which has an off-leash dog park, a playground, a mini-golf course, and yard games. Find what movies are playing this weekend on grandriverdrive-in.com.
June Movies Under the Stars
No registration required for this free summer fun—grab your family or a friend and head to Pelham City Park on Friday, June 27, for Moana 2 at Patriots Park in Alabaster, Friday, July 11, for Inside Out 2 at the Amphitheater, or Friday, July 25, to see A Minecraft Movie at Patriots Park. pelhamalabama.gov
Leeds Summer Lights & Movie Nights
Enjoy food trucks and games from 6–8 p.m. in downtown Leeds, then watch a movie. On July 11, they’ll be showing Mufasa, and on August 1, The Wild Robot. leedsareachamber.com
Moonlight Movies
Vestavia’s bringing back their free outdoor movie nights on Thursday, July 17 with The Secret Life of Pets. They’ll have complimentary popcorn, Cokes, and snow cones—and even Mr. Bill the Balloon Man! The movie will start at 6:15 p.m., but get there early to grab a seat and your snacks. business.vestaviahills.org
Movie at Avondale Brewing Co.
Grab some pizza and a drink while you watch some free classic films at Avondale. Last year’s lineup included The Goonies, The Karate Kid, and Back To The Future. Stay up-to-date on when their summer movie nights will take place on avondalebrewing.com.
Movies on the Mountain
If you’re looking for a good laugh, head to Vulcan’s “Movies on the Mountain,” a new outdoor film series for all ages. The showings include Monsters, Inc. (Saturday, June 21), Toy Story (Saturday, August 16), and Hocus Pocus (Saturday, October 11). Tickets cost $10 for adults and children and $8 for adult members. Classic movie concessions like popcorn and cotton candy and delicious treats from local food vendors are also available for purchase. Keep an eye out for an appearance from V, Vulcan Park & Museum’s beloved mascot. To buy tickets, visit visitvulcan.com.
Summer Movie Nights at Trussville Entertainment District
If you have kids with early bedtimes, you don’t have to miss out on the fun summer movies. The Trussville Entertainment District is doing double showings—the first at 4 p.m., and the second at 7 p.m. Your little Lego builders won’t want to miss The Lego Movie on Tuesday, June 24. Shark Tale is showing on July 8 and Frozen on July 22, with a special meet-and-greet from Elsa and Anna. Register for free on ferusales.com.
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