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30 Free Outdoor Movies in Chicago This Summer for Kids

Movie night with a view! Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
Movie night with a view! Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
5/3/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Free outdoor movies in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs scream summertime. Where else can you enjoy treats, green spaces, and staying up past bedtime? In Chicago, you can see a movie at a landmark destination like Navy Pier or Millennium Park, or enjoy a night out under the stars in your favorite neighborhood or suburban park. 

Want to see a movie in your car? Check out one of our favorite drive-in destinations. Have kids that aren't big enough to stay up past dark on a long summer night? Try out this list of favorite toddler playgrounds or water parks for little ones that are just as good during the day.

Pack your blanket or chair, bag of popcorn, and beverage of choice, and head out to one of the more than 30 locations we've found to see an outdoor movie in Chicago this summer!

 

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Enjoy movies with the family this summer! Photo courtesy of Gallagher Way
Enjoy movies with the family this summer! Photo courtesy of Gallagher Way

Outdoor Movies in Chicago

Chicago Park District Movies in the Park

Citywide
Tuesdays through Saturdays, start date TBA
Hollywood comes to Chicago this summer with hundreds of movies throughout city parks! Bring your own blanket or chairs for retro favorites, kids' classics, and recent box office hits. READ MORE

Movies at Gallagher Way

Wrigleyville
Wednesdays, May 15-September 11
Visit Gallagher Way near Wrigley Field to see a variety of blockbusters on the big screen. Food trucks from local favorite restaurants like Big Star and West Town Bakery sell their goodies at the park. READ MORE

Mary Bartelme Park Movies in the Park

West Loop
June 12, June 25, July 17, July 25, and August 12
Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council and the Chicago Park District present a series of outdoor movies for families in the West Loop Park. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair.. READ MORE

Movie in the Park at The Green at 320

Downtown
June 27, July 25, August 22, and September 19
Visit The Green for its Movies in the Park! FREE Popcorn is available. Borrow a blanket (first come, first served) or bring your bag chair(s). Drinks snacks, pizza other food, and a full bar are available for purchase from Canal Street Eatery & Afterbar. READ MORE

Water Flicks at Navy Pier

Downtown
Mondays, July 8-August 26
Navy Pier hosts "Water Flicks"—free, outdoor screenings of favorite family movies in Polk Bros Park. August 28 will be a viewers choice week in which families vote on Instagram for which movie they would like to see. READ MORE

Millennium Park Summer Film Series

Downtown
Tuesdays, July 16-August 20
Millennium Park hosts free movies in the park throughout July and August. Films are shown on a state-of-the-art 40-foot LED screen READ MORE

Wicker Park Movies in the Park

Wicker Park
2024 dates TBA
Bring a picnic and a blanket to enjoy a movie in Wicker Park on the third Thursday of June, July, and August.  READ MORE

RNRA Movies in the Park

River North
2024 dates TBA
The lineup for 2024 promises plenty of family-friendly movies to enjoy this summer. READ MORE
Kids enjoying movies. Photo courtesy of Canva
Kids enjoying movies. Photo courtesy of Canva

Movies Under the Stars in the Suburbs

Oak Park Movies in the Park

Oak Park
May 17, June 14, July 19, August 16, and September 13
Families can bring a picnic dinner and enjoy a movie in Scoville Park on the third Friday of each month during the summer. Check the website for rainout information. READ MORE

Bensenville Movie in the Park

Bensenville
May 18, June 8, July 20, August 3
See a movie at one of Bensenville's parks on a Saturday night this summer. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and purchase concessions to eat during the show. READ MORE

Lemont Movies in the Park

Lemont
June 4, June 25, and July 9
The Lemont Park District hosts family movie events in three of it parks over the course of the summer. Visit Centennial Parkto see The Little Mermaid on June 4, Covington North Park on June 25 for Wonka or Northview Park on July 9 to see Jurassic Park. READ MORE

Starlight Movies in the Park

Evanston
Saturdays, June 4-August 17
Evanston Park District and Lifeway Foods host more than a dozen movies in the park during June, July, and August. Films are shown in a different park each week, including several special movies on beaches throughout the summer. READ MORE

Glen Ellyn Movies in the Park

Glen Ellyn
June 5, June 26, and July 10
Glen Ellyn Park District hosts a series of movies in various parks throughout the summer.   Movies begin between 8:30 and 9pm. READ MORE

Movies in Lilacia Park

Lombard
June 6, June 27, July 11, and July 31
Families can get ready to enjoy movies in the garden in Lilacia Park. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic snack. Fun family activities will take place in the hour before the movie starts, including a balloon twister, animal encounters and a meet and greet with trolls. READ MORE

Movies Under the Moon

Woodridge
June 7, July 9, and August 2
West Suburban families can explore local parks and enjoy a movie under the moon at threedifferent Woodridge locations throughout the summer. READ MORE

Elmhurst Movies in the Park

Elmhurst
June 7, July 12, and August 2
Enjoy new and classic kids' movies every month in Elmhurst's Wilder Park.Food trucks will sell concessions at the park. READ MORE

Movies in Cantigny Park

Wheaton
Every Friday, June 7- August 30
Cantigny Park hosts weekly movies at its bandshell every Friday at sunset throughout the summer. Seating is first come, first served and visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and bug spray. Concessions can be purchased at Mamie's Toffee and Treats. READ MORE

Frankfort Movies on the Green

Frankfort
June 11, July 9, and August 13
Grab a blanket or chair and head out to Breidert Green for a FREE family movie night with FREE popcorn under the stars. Movies on the Green will feature movies for the entire family to enjoy. Movies begin @ dusk or approximately 8:15 PM. READ MORE

Veterans Park District Movies in the Park

Melrose Park
June 12, June 26, July 11, and August 7
Veterans Park District presents movies in parks this summer. Kids can see Under the Boardwalk in Gouin Park in Franklin Park on June 12, Camp Hideout in Bulger Park in Melrose Park (Spanish subtitles) on June 26, and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile in Grant Park on July 11, or D2-The Mighty Ducks Are Back in Trumbull Park on August 7. Free popcorn is available while supplies last. READ MORE

Westmont Movies Under the Stars

Westmont
June 14, July 12, August 2, and September 6
Join the Westmont Park District for movies under the stars! Arrive early to order food from the food trucks on site, and bring your own blankets and chairs. READ MORE

Movies Under the Stars at Wheaton Public Library

Wheaton
June 14, and July 12, and August 2
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to Wheaton Public Library to see The Super Mario Brothers Movie on June 14, Trolls Band Together on July 12, or Migration on August 2.  READ MORE

Orland Park Outdoor Movie Series

Orland Park
June 17, July 22, and August 12
Orland Park Recreation invites families to see three outdoor movies this summer at Crescent Park. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket to spread out to watch films on a big screen under the stars. READ MORE

Warrenville Summer Movies in the Park

Warrenville
June 20, July 18, and August 8
Families can watch movies the lawn at these Warrenville Park District events in Cerny Park. Arrive at 8 p.m. for the best seats. Concessions are sold at the park. READ MORE

Darien Summer Movies in the Park

Darien
June 20, July 11, July 25, and August 1
Bring your picnic blanket or low-rise lawn chair to one of Darien's parks for a family-friendly movie this summer. Concessions will be available for purchase at the movies in four different parks. READ MORE

Thursdays in the Park Concert and Movie Series Tinley Park

Tinley Park
Thursdays, June 20-July 25
Enjoy a concert or a movie every Thursday night this summer at the Band Shell on the east side of Bettehausen Recreation Center in Tinley Park. A concession stand will sell light refreshments. READ MORE

Skokie Summer Movies in the Park

Skokie
June 20, June 27, July 18, July 25, and August 2
Bring the family, make a picnic, and grab the blankets or chairs so you can enjoy dinner and a movie together. Films include The Super Mario Brothers Movie in Devonshire Park on June 20, The Color Purple at Oakton Community Center on June 27, Wonka at Sports Park East on July 18, and The Little Mermaid at Oakton Community Center on July 25. A special "dive-in" movie, National Treasure, will be shown at Skokie's pool. READ MORE

Buffalo Grove Movies Under the Stars

Buffalo Grove
June 21, July 12, and July 26
Enjoy a movie on a 40-foot screen with surround sound in Willow Stream Park. Concessions will be sold and a rain date is available for each movie. READ MORE

Movie and Mini Dance-a-Thon in Prospect Park

Clarendon Hills
July 11
The Clarendon Hills Park District presents The Super Mario Brothers Movie at Prospect Park. Kids can come at 8:15 for a half-hour dance party before the movie begins. Families can bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets.  READ MORE

Arlington Heights Movie in the Pool/Park

Arlington Heights
July 23 and August 16
See a movie under the stars in Arlington Heights' Recreation Park. Moana will play on July 23 on the deck of Frontier Pool and Super Mario Bros. will be screened in Frontier Park on August 16. READ MORE

Naperville's A Night at the Movies

Naperville
Every other Friday, July 26-September 20
Families can enjoy Friday night outdoor movies at alternating locations between Rotary Hill and 95th Street Community Plaza throughout the summer. When the movies are at Rotary Hill, the Riverwalk concession stand offers special movie snacks such as popcorn, hot dogs, pretzel bites, nachos, candy, and soda. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Multiple parks citywide
Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion & Great Lawn
Darien Parks
Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center
Oakton Community Center