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Bay Area’s Complete Outdoor Movie Guide (Summer 2023)

Kick back under the stars for 70+ outdoor movie nights in SF and around the Bay for summer 2023
By - posted 7/14/2023 No Comment

Summer means the weather (usually) gets a little warmer in the Bay Area and all the outdoor movie screens pop up. So get ready to bring a blanket, pack a picnic (and smuggle in a bottle of wine) and watch a movie under the stars.

San Francisco

Sundown Cinema 2023

San Francisco hosts a free outdoor movie series with seven films in seven parks across the city. 

  • June 8 @ Alamo Square Park – Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – Sunset 8:30p
  • June 30 @ The Presidio Civil War Parade Ground – Top Gun: Maverick (Rated R) – Sunset 8:35p
  • July 21 @ Crane Cove Park (Dogpatch at 18th St.) – Moana – Sunset 8:27p
  • August 18 @ Dolores Park – Mamma Mia (sing along) – Sunset 7:58p
  • September 8 @ India Basin Shoreline Park – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Sunset 7:28p
  • September 29 @ The Ferry Building – Legally Blonde – Sunset 6:55p
  • October 20 @ Jerry Garcia Amphitheater (McLaren Park) – Ghostbusters (1984) – Sunset 6:25p

East Bay

Alameda – Starlight Movies in the Park 2023

Alameda hosts free family movie nights on select Fridays. Event starts at 6:30 pm with games and crafts for kids, and the featured film starts between 8:15 – 8:45 pm, depending on darkness.

Berkeley – Movies in the Park 2023

Berkeley hosts outdoor movie nights screened on a large 20’x12’ inflatable movie screen on Friday nights in various beautiful parks (park locations varies).

Concord – West Wind Drive-In – Solano 2

Old school drive-in with two screens and single features every night of the year for $9. Tuesday is family fun night $6 for adults and $2 for kids 5-11 years, 4 and under are free.  They also host a free drive-in movie night twice a year, for 2023 it was last April 27th then another one typically in September (not confirmed yet for 2023). 1611 Solano Way.

Danville – Moonlight Movies 2023

Come join us for a fun night filled with a free movie and activities at Town Green: 420 Front Street, Danville. Games and activities start at 6:15 p.m. provided by Arts and Rec on the Go. Movies start at 8:15 p.m. or after sunset.

  • Friday, June 16 – Shang Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings (2021) Rating: PG-13
  • Friday, June 30 – Lightyear (2022) Rating: PG
  • Friday, July 14  – Emperor’s New Groove (2000)  Rating: G
  • Friday, July 28 – The Karate Kid (1984) Rating: PG

Dublin – Picnic Flix 2023

The City of Dublin’s free outdoor movie series, Picnic Flix will rotate through three different parks in Dublin. The movies will begin at dusk (approximately 8:30 – 9:00 p.m.). Guests are encouraged to bring low-back chairs and/or blankets, and to dress warmly.  Sorry, but pets are not allowed.  Food and snack vendors will be on hand for meal purchases by 6:30 p.m., along with games and activities.

  • Friday, June 23 – DC League of Super-Pets (PG) at Emerald Glen Park (4201 Central Parkway)
  • Friday, June 30 – Lightyear (PG) at Don Biddle Community Park (6100 Horizon Parkway)
  • Friday, July 7 – Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG) at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums
  • Friday, July 14 – Encanto (PG) at Emerald Glen Park  (4201 Central Parkway)
  • Friday, July 21 – Rumble (PG) at Don Biddle Community Park  (6100 Horizon Parkway)
  • Friday, July 28 – Turning Red (PG) at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums (6600 Donlon Way)

Hercules – Friday Family Flix & Fun 2023

Join us for our free Friday Family Flix and Fun nights at Refugio Valley Park.  Movies this summer are on the 3rd Friday of each month (June-August). All movies will begin once it’s dark enough. That is usually about 20 mins after sunset.

  • Friday, June 16 – Minions: Rise of Gru
  • Friday, July 21 – Lightyear
  • Friday, August 18 – Turning Red

Larkspur – Friday Movie Night at The Mart 2023

Every Friday at 6pm from June 16 – August 25, 2023 at Marin Country Mart

  • Friday, June 16 – Curious George
  • Friday, June 23 – Up
  • Friday, June 30 – Marcel The Shell With Shoes On
  • Friday, July 7 – Inside Out
  • Friday, July 14 – Wall-E
  • Friday, July 21 – The Incredibles
  • Friday, July 28 – Pinocchio
  • Friday, August 4 – Ratatouille
  • Friday, August 11 – Moana
  • Friday, August 18 – Finding Nemo
  • Friday, August 25 – Puss In Boots

Oakland – Waterfront Flicks 2023

Jack London Square is home to Oakland’s Waterfront Flicks in June and July. Join in on Saturday nights on the Marina Lawn; films start at 8:30 pm.

  • June 24th: Mean Girls (PG-13)
  • July 1st: Back To The Future (PG)
  • July 8th: Finding Dory (PG)
  • July 15th: Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG)

Piedmont – Movies in the Park 2023

Piedmont invites your family and friends to watch a family-friendly under the stars. Movies begin at dusk in Piedmont Main Park (711 Highland Avenue, Oakland) and admission is free.

  • July 21: The Croods 2: A New Age (8:30 pm)
  • August 18: Turning Red (8:00 pm)
  • September 22: Matilda (7:15 pm)

Orinda – Summer Movies in the Park 2023

The Orinda Parks and Recreation Department is happy to bring back Movies in the Park. The movies, which are presented by the Orinda Parks and Recreation Foundation with support from the Orinda Community Foundation and the City of Orinda, will be held Friday evenings at Orinda Community Center Park located at 28 Orinda Way. Movies begin at dusk.

  • Friday, May 19 – The Incredibles
  • Friday, July 7 – Minions: The Rise of Gru
  • Friday, July 14 – Night at the Museum
  • Friday, August 18 – Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
  • Friday, August 25 – Encanto
  • Friday, October 6 – The Super Mario Bros. Movie

North Bay

Mill Valley – Movies in the Park 2023

Grab a blanket or your favorite lawn chair and some snacks for some fun-filled movie magic under the stars. Dates and movies for our 2023 Movies in the Park series have been announced and different parks in the city. Movies begin at dusk.

  • Friday, June 2nd – The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – Old Mill Park
  • Friday, July 14th – School of Rock (2003) – Old Mill Park
  • Friday, August 11th – Finding Nemo (2003) – Mill Valley Community Center Lawn
  • Friday, September 8th – Monsters University (2013) – Old Mill Park
  • Friday, October 13th – Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) – Old Mill Park

Santa Rosa – Monday Movie Nights on the Square 2023

Movies on the Square are back this year and better than ever. Four Monday night screenings on a massive LED screen will light up Courthouse Square in Downtown Santa Rosa. Movie screenings begin at 6:00pm, and the lineup includes:

  • Monday, July 10: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
  • Monday, July 17: Sonic the Hedgehog (1/2020)
  • Monday, July 24: Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
  • Monday, July 31: Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

Pennisula

Redwood City – Movies on the Square 2023

Redwood City hosts Double Features on Thursdays in Courthouse Square, June 8 through August 31, 2023. Kids movies starts at 6 pm, Bravemaker Independent Films start at 8 pm and Evening Feature Films start at 8:30 pm.

  • June 8 – Paddington 2 & Thor: Love and Thunder
  • June 15 – BraveMaker Film Fest & Creed III
  • June 22 – Turning Red & Sleepless in Seattle
  • June 29 – BraveMaker Film Fest & Top Gun: Maverick
  • July 6 – Lightyear & The Fabelmans
  • July 13 – BraveMaker Film Fest
  • July 20 – The Bad Guys & Arrival
  • July 27 – BraveMaker Film Fest & Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
  • August 3 – Minions: The Rise of Gru & Jurassic World: Dominion
  • August 10 – BraveMaker Film Fest & Elvis
  • August 17 – Puss in Boots: The Last Wish & Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
  • August 24 – BraveMaker Film Fest & Groundhog Day
  • August 31 – DC League of Super-Pets & A Man Called Otto

Mountain View – Summer Outdoor Movie Nights 2023

Friday nights July 7 – August 11 at various parks throughout Mountain View. All movies begin at 8:30 p.m. or dark. Bring a blanket or lawn chair

  • July 7: Cuesta Park: Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG)
  • July 14: Sylvan Park: Lightyear (PG)
  • July 21: Stevenson Park: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (PG)
  • July 28: Whisman Park: DC League of Super-Pets (PG)
  • August4: Eagle Park: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (PG-13)
  • August 11: Rengstorff Park: Strange World (PG)

South Bay & Santa Cruz

San Jose – Starlight Cinema 2023

San Jose hosts free summer outdoor movies select Saturdays at dusk in St. James Park, N 2nd St &, E St James St, San Jose

  • July 1 – Mean Girls
  • July 15 – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  • July 29 – Moana
  • August 5 – Back to the Future

Palo Alto – Family Movie Night 2023

The Community Services Department is back with its 3rd annual Family Movie Night Series! Seating will start around 7 p.m. and the movies will start at sunset at the Mitchell Park Athletic Field, 600 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto, CA, 94303, View Map

  • Friday, June 9: Paws of Fury Legend of Hank
  • Friday, June 23: Lightyear
  • Friday, July 7: DC League of Super Pets
  • Friday, July 21: Minions – The Rise of Gru
  • Friday, August 11: Strange World
  • Friday, August 25: Super Mario

Santa Cruz – Free Movie Nights on the Beach 2023

Enjoy movies on the sand every Friday night at 9pm from June 16-August 11, 2023 at the Beach Boardwalk, right in front of the colonnade.

  • June 16 – The Lost Boys – Filmed in Santa Cruz!
  • June 23 – Mamma Mia!
  • June 30 – Space Jam
  • July 7 – Labyrinth
  • July 14 – Selena
  • July 21 – Minions: The Rise of Gru
  • July 28 – Top Gun: Maverick
  • August 4 – Shrek
  • August 11 – The Neverending Story