*Note: This list is being updated as events are being announced.
One of the great things about Orange County is the mild summer nights that are perfect for enjoying free outdoor movies in the park with friends and family. There are many parks and facilities throughout the Orange County area that offer free movie nights so there is bound to be one close to home. Check the list below to find your city, or one near you, and plan your next outdoor movie night.
Not sure what to expect? Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your movie night under the stars.
- Be sure to arrive early to pick your spot. You don’t want to have to walk around through crowds of people in the dark after the movie has started.
- Bring blankets and low lawn chairs (no taller than 32″ to avoid blocking the view of others).
- Bring layers of clothing – a long sleeved shirt and a light jacket. It can cool of quickly after the sun goes down. If you are attending a movie near the beach bring a heavier layer like a hooded sweatshirt to stay warm in the cool ocean breeze.
- Bring a picnic for dinner and snacks to enjoy during the movie. Most locations will have snack booths available to purchase snacks on site, and many now have food trucks for people to purchase food and drinks.
- Consider leaving the dog at home. While it’s fun to take your best furry friend out and about, not everyone loves dogs. And not every location will allow them. If you must bring the dog, check the location you will be attending before hand to ensure that pets are allowed and, please, always keep your dog on a leash.
- Invite your friends. Movie nights are a great opportunity to get together and enjoy the warm summer evenings with friends and family.
- Leave the alcohol at home. Most locations do not allow alcohol consumption during movie night, and glass containers are prohibited.
The following Summer Movies in the Park include freebies, additional activities, and special events:
- Aliso Viejo events include complimentary face painting from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
- Anaheim movie nights that are sponsored by Disney may include free popcorn and beverages, giveaways, a visit from Disney Ambassadors, trivia games, and hula hooping contests.
- Dana Point movie nights include free popcorn.
- Fountain Valley movie nights at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center include events beginning at 6:00 p.m. with food trucks, games, and a costume contest. A new bike is awarded to the winner of the costume contest.
- Garden Grove events include family activities beginning at 6:00 p.m.
- La Habra movie nights will include Bamboo Kids Club activities.
- Los Alamitos events kick off with a live music concert from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. immediately followed by a family movie and will include raffles, kids’ activities, and food and drinks available for purchase.
- The Newport Coast event at Crystal Cove is hosted by the Crystal Cove Conservancy on the sand outside the Historic District’s “Beaches” Film & Media Center and “Beaches” Cottage #13. Visitors will learn about Crystal Cove’s role in the film industry and enjoy a unique movie night.
- Tustin movie nights will feature pre-movie activities from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Free Outdoor Movies in Orange County
| Date | Day | Time | Movie | Location | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 12 | Saturday | 6 PM | The Parent Trap | Brea Civic & Cultural Center | Brea |
| March 4 | Friday | 5 PM | The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water | Crown Valley Park Amphitheatre | Laguna Niguel |
| March 11 | Friday | 5 PM | Onward | Crown Valley Park Amphitheatre | Laguna Niguel |
| March 12 | Saturday | 6 PM | Legally Blonde | Brea Civic & Cultural Center | Brea |
| March 25 | Friday | 6 PM | Minions | Aliso Viejo Middle School | Aliso Viejo |
| April 1 | Friday | 6 PM | Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway | Crown Valley Park Amphitheatre | Laguna Niguel |
| April 9 | Saturday | 6 PM | The Goonies | Brea Civic & Cultural Center | Brea |
| April 22 | Friday | 7 PM | Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway | Florista & Pine Street | Los Alamitos |
| April 29 | Friday | 7 PM | Sing 2 | Florista & Pine Street | Los Alamitos |
| May 6 | Friday | 7 PM | Encanto | Florista & Pine Street | Los Alamitos |
| May 13 | Friday | 7 PM | Raya And The Last Dragon | Florista & Pine Street | Los Alamitos |
| May 13 | Friday | 6 PM | Raya And The Last Dragon | Fountain Valley Sports Park | Los Alamitos |
| May 13 | Friday | Dusk | Luca | Marina Park | Newport Beach |
| May 21 | Saturday | Dusk | Encanto | East Side Community Park | Yorba Linda |
| June 3 | Friday | 8 pm | Cruella | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 10 | Friday | 8 PM | Luca | Brea Civic & Cultural Center | Brea |
| June 10 | Friday | 8 pm | Encanto | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June | Friday | 7PM | TBD | Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel | Aliso Viejo |
| June 17 | Friday | 8:30 PM | Sing 2 | Eastgate Park | Garden Grove |
| June 17 | Friday | Dusk start | Sing | Oeste Park | La Habra |
| June 17 | Friday | Sunset | Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle | Craig Regional Park | OC Parks |
| June 17 | Friday | 8:00 PM | Jungle Cruise | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 17 | Friday | Dusk Start | Tom & Jerry | Boisseranc Park | Buena Park |
| June 17 | Friday | Dusk Start | Sing 2 | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| June 17 | Friday | Dusk Start | TBD | Rush Park | Rossmoor |
| June | Saturday | 8:00 PM | TBD | Ikea Parking Lot | Costa Mesa |
| June 18 | Saturday | Dusk | Paw Patrol | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| June 18 | Saturday | Dusk | Luca | OC Great Park/Terraced lawn | Irvine |
| June 22 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Sing 2 | Thornton Park | Santa Ana |
| June 24 | Friday | 8 PM | Encanto | Brea Civic & Cultural Center | Brea |
| June 24 | Friday | Sunset | The Princess Bride | Craig Regional Park | OC Parks |
| June 24 | Friday | 8 pm | Addams Family 2 | Lantern Bay Park | Dana Point |
| June 29 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Cars | Jerome Park | Santa Ana |
| June | Saturday | Dusk Start | TBD | Little Cottonwood Park | Los Alamitos |
| July 1 | Friday | Sunset | Encanto | Carbon Canyon Regional Park | OC Parks |
| July 6 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Back To The Future | Santiago Park | Santa Ana |
| July 8 | Friday | Dusk Start | Secret Life of Pets 2 | Cedar Grove Park | Tustin |
| July 8 | Friday | Sunset | The Mummy | Carbon Canyon Regional Park | OC Parks |
| July 8 | Friday | Dusk Start | Encanto | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| July 8 | Friday | 7 pm | Encanto | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 8 | Friday | 8:00 PM | Lilo & Stitch | Brea Civic & Cultural Center | Brea |
| July 10 | Sunday | Dusk start | Big Hero 6 | Brio Park | La Habra |
| July 13 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | The Secret Life Of Pets 2 | Edna Park Park | Santa Ana |
| July | Friday | 8 PM | TBD | Vista Hermosa Sports Park | San Clemente |
| July | Friday | Dusk Start | TBD | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| July 15 | Friday | Dusk | Encanto | Murdy Park | Huntington Beach |
| July 15 | Friday | Dusk | Homeward Bound | Victory Park | Tustin |
| July 15 | Friday | Dusk Start | Jungle Cruise | Boisseranc Park | Buena Park |
| July 15 | Friday | Sunset | Onward | Yorba Regional Park | OC Parks |
| July 15 | Friday | Dusk | The Croods: A New Age | Buffalo Hills Park | Newport Beach |
| July 15 | Friday | 7 PM | Jumanji (1996) | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 15 | Friday | Dusk Start | Encanto | Crown Valley Park Amphitheater | Laguna Niguel |
| July 15 | Friday | 8:30 pm | TBA | Garden Grove Park | Garden Grove |
| July 15 | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Rush Park | Rossmoor |
| July 16 | Saturday | Dusk | Luca | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| July 16 | Saturday | 8 PM | Corpse Bride | Fairhaven Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
| July 20 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Luca | Lillie King Park | Santa Ana |
| July 22 | Friday | Dusk Start | Luca | Edison Park | Huntington Beach |
| July 22 | Friday | Dusk Start | Luca | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| July 22 | Friday | Dusk | Frankenweenie | Tustin Sports Park | Tustin |
| July 22 | Friday | 7 pm | Sing 2 | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 22 | Friday | Sunset | Mean Girls | Yorba Regional Park | OC Parks |
| July 22 | Friday | 7:30PM | Encanto | Rancho Santa Margarita Central Park | Rancho Santa Margarita |
| July 22 | Friday | 8:00 PM | Moana | Brea Civic & Cultural Center | Brea |
| July | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| July | Friday | 8 pm | TBA | The Commons | Aliso Viejo |
| July 23 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Space Jam: A New Legacy | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| July | Saturday | Dusk Start | TBA | Little Cottonwood Park | Los Alamitos |
| July 27 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Onward | El Salvador Park | Santa Ana |
| July 29 | Friday | Dusk Start | Bolt | Veterans Sports Park | Tustin |
| July 29 | Friday | 7 pm | Honey I Shrunk The Kids | Stanton Central Park | Stanton |
| July 29 | Friday | Dusk Start | Space Jam: A New Legacy | Boisseranc Park | Buena Park |
| July 29 | Friday | Sunset | Jungle Cruise | Irvine Regional Park | OC Parks |
| July 29 | Friday | Dusk start | Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | El Centro-Lions Park | La Habra |
| July 29 | Friday | Dusk | Sing 2 | Lake Park | Huntington Beach |
| July | Friday | 7:30 pm | TBA | Sports Park and Rec Center | Lake Forest |
| August 2 | Tuesday | Dusk start | Encanto | Portola Park | La Habra |
| August 2 | Tuesday | Dusk Start | Sing 2 | Fountain Valley Sports Park | Fountain Valley |
| August 3 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Coco | El Salvador Park | Santa Ana |
| August 5 | Friday | 8:30 pm | Spiderman: No Way Home | Garden Grove Park | Garden Grove |
| August 5 | Friday | Dusk Start | 101 Dalmatians | Tustin Hangar Preregistration required | Tustin |
| August 5 | Friday | Sunset | The School Of Rock | Irvine Regional Park | OC Parks |
| August 5 | Friday | Dusk | Raya | Worthy Park | Huntington Beach |
| August | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 6 | Saturday | Dusk Start | A Dog's Purpose | Crown Valley Park Amphitheater | Laguna Niguel |
| August 10 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Big Hero 6 | Rosita Park | Santa Ana |
| August 12 | Friday | Sunset | Raya And The Last Dragon | Laguna Niguel Regional Park | OC Parks |
| August 12 | Friday | Dusk Start | Honey, I Shrunk The Kids | Grand Park | Aliso Viejo |
| August 12 | Friday | 7:45 PM | Encanto | Vista Hermosa Sports Park | San Clemente |
| August 12 | Friday | Dusk Start | Sing 2 | Boisseranc Park | Buena Park |
| August | Friday | 7:45 pm | TBA | Twila Reid Park | Anaheim |
| August 13 | Saturday | Dusk Start | Sing 2 | OC Great Park/Terraced Lawn | Irvine |
| August 17 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Jungle Cruise | Madison Park | Santa Ana |
| August | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Rush Park | Rossmoor |
| August | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| August 19 | Friday | 7:30PM | Sing 2 | Rancho Santa Margarita Central Park | Rancho Santa Margarita |
| August 19 | Friday | Dusk start | Spiderman: No Way Home | El Centro-Lions Park | La Habra |
| August 19 | Friday | Sunset | Back To The Future | Laguna Niguel Regional Park | OC Parks |
| August 19 | Friday | 7PM | Sing 2 | Bay View Park | Newport Beach |
| August 20 | Saturday | 8 PM | The Nightmare Before Christmas | Fairhaven Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
| August 24 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Boss Baby: A Family Business | Mabury Park | Santa Ana |
| August | Friday | 7:30 pm | TBA | Sports Park and Rec Center | Lake Forest |
| August 26 | Friday | Sunset | Luca | Bluff Park At Salt Creek Beach | OC Parks |
| August 26 | Friday | 7:30PM | Encanto | Aliso Viejo Middle School | Aliso Viejo |
| August 26 | Friday | Dusk Start | Luca | Fountain Valley Sports Park | Fountain Valley |
| August 31 | Wednesday | Dusk Start | Encanto | Memorial Park | Santa Ana |
| September 2 | Friday | Sunset | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl | Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach | OC Parks |
| September 16 | Friday | Dusk Start | Encanto | Mariner's Park | Newport Beach |
| September 23 | Friday | Dusk start | Luca | Portola Park | La Habra |
| September | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Champions Sports Complex | Placentia |
| September | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Rush Park | Rossmoor |
| September | Friday | Dusk Start | TBA | Loma Norte Park | La Habra |
| September | Friday | 7PM | TBA | Civic Center Green | Cypress |
| September | Saturday | Dusk | TBA | Hurless Barton Park | Yorba Linda |
| October 21 | Friday | Dusk start | Addams Family 2 | Our Lady Of Guadalupe Church | La Habra |
| October 22 | Saturday | 6PM | ET | Brea Civic & Cultural Center | Brea |
Additional Paid or Visitor Only Outdoor Movies
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina offers movies on the beach every weekend from May 2022 through September. Movie nights are complimentary to RV Park and Marina guests who have paid to stay. Visit the website to see the movie schedule.
Pacific City Summer Movies feature popular movies the whole family will love. The event is free and hosted on the upper deck of the shopping center at the Surf Theater, but guests will have to pay for parking. Bring blankets and lawn chairs and arrive early to get a spot. All shows begin at 7:00 p.m.
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