Outdoor Movies in the Park are extremely popular this year. Almost every city or adjacent city has them and there are some good ones showing this year. We've been to these a couple of times and I thought some tips for what to bring and expect might be helpful.
1. Get there early:
Parking can be an issue and regular goers know to show up early. Showing up early assures that you will get the best spot available. Most parks have pre-entertainment, such as live music, face painting, food trucks, bounce houses, and local vendors. Plan to make a night of it and have fun.
2. Bring games:
Hit the Dollar Spot at Target or the Dollar store to find some inexpensive bubbles, glow sticks, bat the ball games or set up some buckets and use a bean bag for a make shift game of Corn Hole. You could also bring a card game like UNO, Phase 10 or Yahtzee.
3. Bring blankets, jacket and chairs:
Different parks have different types of seating. Some on a hill and chair won't do you any good, so be prepared with a blanket, I love this . If you do bring chairs make sure to set them up where they won't obstruct others views. Also, even on a hot day, it can get cool at night so come prepared with a jacket.
We like the Forbidden Road Portable Picnic Blanket Mat. For around $10 on Amazon.com, it's been well used.
4. Bring insect repellent, hand sanitizer and wet wipes:
While most cities spray their parks for mosquitoes, they still come out at night. You'll want that bug spray for keeping the bugs at bay. Most parks set up Port-a-Potties for the bathroom facilities having wipes and hand sanitizer can be a real lifesaver.
5. Bring Food, Drinks and Money
While there is plenty of food, it can be costly. Bringing a cooler with your own chow can save you a bunch. If you do plan to eat from the park vendors, I would, at bare least, bring your own drinks and candy. You'll also want to bring a few dollars for any popcorn etc. If you're in need of a cooler check out this post of cooler bargains.
Keep in mind that each venue is different, so be sure to visit the website of each park for the complete details. You can find the list of movies in the park showing this year here.
Leave a Reply