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Long evenings and warm weather — plus a picnic dinner and a favorite film — encompass all the elements of an ideal summer movie night outdoors.
This summer, cities across the Peninsula are rolling out giant screens and transforming parks and plazas into open-air cinemas, showcasing free movie screenings ranging from animated family favorites to blockbuster new releases. Here’s where to find free outdoor movie nights across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
Redwood City
For moviegoers looking for multiple film screenings, Redwood City’s Movies on the Square is offering 10 more consecutive Thursday nights of free outdoor entertainment at Courthouse Square through Sept. 3. Most evenings feature a double bill, beginning with a family-friendly movie at 6 p.m. followed by either a Bravemaker independent short film or a second feature at 8 or 8:30 p.m.
The next movie night on July 2 will feature “Elio” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” with later screenings including “Shrek,” “Lilo and Stitch,” “F1,” “Freakier Friday” and more. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and pick up dinner from a downtown restaurant. View the complete schedule online.
Thursdays through Sept. 3. Kids’ movies start at 6 p.m.; BraveMaker independent films start at 8 p.m.; evening feature films at 8:30 p.m. at Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. redwoodcity.org.
Santa Clara County
Rather than staying in one location, Santa Clara County Parks’ Movie Nights in the Park series brings free outdoor screenings to parks across the county through the summer. Each stop begins with a community block party before the featured film. Remaining screenings include “Bumblebee” (July 10), “Elemental” (July 24), “How to Train Your Dragon” (Aug. 1), “Shrek” (Aug. 8), “The Wild Robot” (Aug. 15) and “A Bug’s Life” (Aug. 22) at parks including Hellyer, Vasona, Joseph D. Grant and Mount Madonna.
July 10 at Vasona Lake County Park, 333 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos; July 24 at Hellyer County Park, 985 Hellyer Ave., San Jose; Aug. 1 at Joseph D. Grant County Park, 18405 Mount Hamilton Road, San Jose; Aug. 8 at Hellyer County Park; Aug. 15 at Vasona Lake County Park; Aug. 22 at Mount Madonna County Park, 7850 Pole Line Road, Watsonville. Block party starts at 6 p.m., movie starts at 8 p.m. Parking is $6 per vehicle. tinyurl.com/3y7ekbmx.
Mountain View
Mountain View’s Summer Outdoor Movie Night Series brings free, family-friendly movies to a different neighborhood park each Friday July 10 through Aug. 14. This year’s selection includes “Zootopia 2” (July 10), “SpongeBob: The Search for SquarePants” (July 17), “Hoppers” (July 24), “Super Mario Galaxy” (July 31), “GOAT” (Aug. 7) and the live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” (Aug. 14). Attendants are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair.
July 10 at Cuesta Park, 615 Cuesta Drive; July 17 at Sylvan Park, 500 Sylvan Ave.; July 24 at Stevenson Park, 750 San Pierre Way; July 31 at Whisman Park, 300 Easy St.; Aug. 7 at Eagle Park, 650 Franklin St.; and Aug. 14 at Rengstorff Park, 201 S. Rengstorff Ave. All movies begin at 8:30 p.m. or when dark. mountainview.gov.
Palo Alto
Palo Alto’s Summer Family Movie Night Series returns to Mitchell Park for its sixth year, featuring a lineup of family-friendly blockbusters projected beneath the open sky. Families can spread out blankets on the athletic fields from 7 p.m. onward, with movies starting at sunset. The rest of this summer’s schedule features “Zootopia 2” (July 10), “GOAT” (July 17), “Hoppers” (July 31) and “The Super Mario Galaxy” (Aug. 14).
July 10, July 17, July 31, Aug. 14. 7:30-10:30 p.m. (seating begins at 7 p.m.) at Mitchell Park athletics fields, 600 E. Meadow Drive, Palo Alto. paloalto.gov.
Millbrae
The city of Millbrae is hosting its free outdoor movie series at Central Park with screenings on the second Friday of each month through September. The movie selection will include “A Minecraft Movie” (July 10), “The Wild Robot” (Aug. 14) and “GOAT” (Sept. 11), with each movie beginning at 7:30 p.m.. Families are invited to settle in with blankets, lawn chairs and picnic snacks until the credits roll.
July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11. Movie screenings begin at 7:30 p.m. at Central Park, 478 Lincoln Circle, Millbrae. tinyurl.com/4ykkbt4e.
Santa Clara
Santa Clara’s free Sunset Cinema series returns on select Fridays with outdoor movies shown on a giant inflatable screen at parks across the city. The selection begins July 10 with “A Minecraft Movie,” a pre-show performance by acrobatic duo Coventry & Kaluza and library summer reading activities.
Remaining screenings will feature “Superman” (Aug. 14) and “Coco” (Oct. 23) as part of a Día de los Muertos celebration. All movies begin at dusk and will have snacks available for purchase.
July 10 at Lick Mill Park, 4750 Lick Mill Blvd. starting at 8:45 p.m.; Aug. 14 at Earl Carmichael Park, 3445 Benton St. starting at 8:30 p.m.; Oct. 23 at Mission City Memorial Park, 420 N. Winchester Blvd. starting at 6 p.m. santaclaraca.gov.
South San Francisco
Families can catch two free movie nights this summer through South San Francisco’s Movie Night in the Park series. The first screening on July 17 in the Orange Memorial Park meadow will feature “Zootopia 2” and include family-friendly activities before the movie begins at sundown (roughly 8:30 p.m.) in celebration of Parks and Recreation Month.
The series will then continue Aug. 21 with “GOAT” inside the Terrabay Gymnasium. Bring blankets, low-back chairs and your favorite movie snacks.
July 17, 6-10 p.m. (movie begins at 8:30 p.m.) at Orange Memorial Park, 1 West Orange Ave., South San Francisco. Aug. 21, 7-9 p.m. at Terrabay Gymnasium, 1121 South San Francisco Drive, South San Francisco. ssfca.gov.
Los Altos Hills
Los Altos Hills’ Movie Night at the Park will feature a screening of “Zootopia 2” and turn Purissima Park into a picnic-friendly outdoor theater venue. The free event begins at 6:30 p.m., giving families time to spread out blankets and lawn chairs, grab dinner from local food trucks and stop by the Youth Commission’s concession stand for coffee, hot cocoa and fresh popcorn before the movie begins at dusk.
Aug. 7, 6:30-10:30 p.m. at Purissima Park, 27500 Purissima Road, Los Altos Hills. losaltoshills.ca.gov.
Cupertino
For four Friday evenings in August, Cupertino’s Movies in the Park series will welcome families for free community screenings. The lineup encompasses recent releases and family favorites, beginning with “GOAT” on Aug. 7, followed by “A Bug’s Life” (Aug. 14), “Freakier Friday” (Aug. 21) and “Superman” (Aug. 28). Bring blankets, lawn chairs and dinner, and enjoy a laid-back summer evening with neighbors beneath the stars.
Aug. 7, Aug. 14, Aug. 21, Aug. 28, 8 p.m. at Creekside Park, 10455 Miller Ave., Cupertino. Parking is $6 per vehicle. cupertino.gov.
San Bruno
San Bruno’s annual Movies in the Park series returns this September, but residents have a chance to help determine the lineup first. Through July 13, the community can vote online for up to four movie selections, with the top four earning Friday night screenings throughout September at San Bruno City Park. Options include “The Muppet Movie,” “Ratatouille,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “E.T.” and more.
Sept. 4, Sept. 11, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25. Lawn games at 7 p.m, movie starts at 8 p.m. at San Bruno City Park (near the tennis courts), 251 City Park Way, San Bruno. sanbruno.ca.gov/movies.
San Mateo
The city of San Mateo’s outdoor movie night series returns in September for four consecutive Fridays starting at Fitzgerald Field in Central Park. A survey closes July 6 at 11:59 p.m. to select which movies will be shown.
Sept. 4 at Fitzgerald Field in Central Park, 50 E. Fifth Ave., Sept. 11 at Shoreview Field in Shoreview Park, 950 Ocean View Ave., Sept. 18 at Laurie Meadows Park, 111 Laurie Meadows Park and Sept. 25 at Beresford Park, 2720 Alameda de las Pulgas. Times to be announced. cityofsanmateo.org/specialevents.
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