Free Outdoor Movies in Orange County 2026

Find free outdoor movies in Orange County in 2026, including Movies in the Park, beach movies and outdoor movie nights hosted by OC Parks and local cities. Browse the schedule below for dates, films and locations, and confirm event details with the linked organizer before attending because schedules can change.

🎬 2026 outdoor movie schedules are updated as cities announce new dates and films. 🍿

Upcoming Free Outdoor Movies in Orange County

Most city-park, OC Parks and Halloween-season movie series have wrapped. Look for the fall and holiday movie nights below.

Friday, November 13
The Nightmare Before Christmas — Huntington Beach
6:30 PM · Pasea Hotel & Spa Ocean Lawn

Friday, November 20
Beetlejuice — San Juan Capistrano
6–8 PM · San Juan Capistrano Library courtyard

Friday, November 27
Lighting of the Bay opening night — Newport Beach
Holiday movie on the beach at 6:15 PM (title not yet posted) · Newport Dunes, 4–9 PM event · Free entry; parking is a flat $15 that night

Sunday, December 6
The Grinch (2018) — Anaheim
6–7:40 PM · Farmers Park at the Anaheim Packing District · Free; only food and drinks bought at the Packing District are allowed

Thursday, December 10
Elf — Huntington Beach
6:30 PM · Pasea Hotel & Spa Ocean Lawn

Friday, December 11
A Christmas Carol — Brea
7 PM · Brea Civic & Cultural Center plaza

Complete 2026 Orange County Outdoor Movie Schedule

Free Outdoor Movies in Orange County 2026

Coastal movie nights get chilly fast once the sun drops, so bring a hoodie even in summer, and show up early if you want a spot near the screen. Always check the organizer's rules, because permitted items vary by park and event.

• Blankets or low-back chairs: Seating rules vary, so check the event page before bringing larger chairs.
• Layers: Orange County evenings can cool down after sunset, especially near the coast.
• Snacks and drinks: Many events allow outside food or have food vendors, but restrictions vary by location.
• Event details: Check the organizer's rules for pets, alcohol, glass containers, parking and other restrictions before attending.
• Arrive early: Popular movie nights can fill up before the film begins.

See our free outdoor concerts in the park and summer movies at the theater for as little as $1.50 lists too!

The following Summer Movies in the Park include freebies, additional activities, and special events:

• Aliso Viejo: Past events have included complimentary face painting before the movie begins.
• Anaheim: Movie nights sponsored by Disney may include free popcorn and drinks, giveaways, a visit from Disney Ambassadors, games, and contests.
• Dana Point: May include free popcorn.
• Fountain Valley Recreation Center: Events beginning at 6:00 p.m. often feature food trucks, games, and contests.
• Garden Grove: Fun family activities begin at 6:00 p.m. before the movie.
• La Habra: Bamboo Kids Club activities are usually included prior to the movie.
• Los Alamitos: Enjoy live music from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. with the movie immediately after the concert. May also include raffles, kids' activities, and food and drink vendors.
• The Newport Coast/Crystal Cove Conservancy: Located on the sand near the Historic District’s “Beaches” Film & Media Center and "Beaches" Cottage #13, enjoy a pre-movie informational presentation about Crystal Cove’s role in the film industry.
• Tustin: Pre-movie activities and fun from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Additional Paid or Visitor Only Outdoor Movies

Buena Park Dive In Movies are hosted at Peak Park Pool (7225 El Dorado Drive). Entry is $1 for kids and $1.50 for Adults. Pool opens at 7:30 PM and movies begin at 8:30 PM. For 2026, dates are:

• July 9 - Luca
• July 16 - Surfs Up
• July 23 - Shark Tale

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina hosted free outdoor movies open to the public (parking rates applied) on Fridays and Saturdays at dusk through October 24, 2026 (no movies over the 4th of July weekend). 2027 summer dates are TBA. On Friday, November 27, the resort's Lighting of the Bay opening night (4–9 PM) includes a holiday movie on the beach at 6:15 PM; the title hasn't been posted yet. Entry is free, and parking is a flat $15 that night.

Pacific City Sunset Music + Movie Nights ran August 27–October 29, 2026, on the Level 1 Ocean Deck (between Simmzy’s and Mendocino Farms). Nights featured live music around 5 PM and a free movie at sunset, and the season closed with an October 29 Halloween family night and a screening of Coco. The series may return in 2027; dates TBA.

Pasea Hotel & Spa Movie Nights on the Lawn in Huntington Beach screen seasonal favorites on the hotel's Ocean Lawn (21080 Pacific Coast Highway). Admission is complimentary, and movie guests get discounted $15 parking. Upcoming dates:

• Friday, November 13 - The Nightmare Before Christmas (movie 6:30 PM)
• Thursday, December 10 - Elf (movie 6:30 PM)

Cozy Cinema Nights at Hyatt Regency Irvine screens family movies at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays in November and December at the hotel’s Pool Oasis (17900 Jamboree Rd., Irvine). The hotel lists the series as complimentary for hotel guests, with seating first come, first served. Day visitors should confirm access with the hotel before heading over, since a public ticket price isn’t listed. Movies start at 5:00 p.m.:

• Saturday, November 14 - Zootopia 2
• Saturday, November 21 - Ratatouille
• Saturday, November 28 - Finding Nemo
• Saturday, December 5 - The Santa Clause
• Saturday, December 12 - Noelle
• Saturday, December 19 - The Muppet Christmas Carol
• Saturday, December 26 - Frozen

Brewery X in Anaheim hosted family movie nights with movies on the big screen out on the lawn. The 2026 series ran on select nights through August; 2027 dates are TBA. See the schedule here.

Lake Mission Viejo offers Movies in the Moonlight with four movie nights from June through August. These movies are free to Lake Mission Viejo Association members and their guests.

Outdoor Movie FAQs

Are outdoor movies in Orange County free?

Most city and library screenings are free. Pasea's Movie Nights on the Lawn in Huntington Beach are complimentary, with discounted $15 parking for movie guests. Hyatt Regency Irvine lists Cozy Cinema as complimentary for hotel guests, first come, first served; day visitors should confirm access before heading over. The Packing District's Grinch night is free. Newport Dunes' Lighting of the Bay opening night is free to enter, with a flat $15 parking fee that night.

What time do Movies in the Park start?

It depends on the venue. San Juan Capistrano's library courtyard movies run 6–8 PM, Pasea starts at 6:30 PM, and Brea's Christmas Carol is at 7 PM. The Packing District is showing The Grinch from 6 to 7:40 PM on December 6, and Newport Dunes lists its holiday beach movie for 6:15 PM during the 4–9 PM opening-night event. Summer park series often started at dusk. Check the organizer for the latest time.

Can I bring chairs and food?

Blankets and low-back chairs are usually fine at park and hotel lawn screenings, but always check the event page. Food rules vary more. The Packing District doesn't allow outside food or drinks; only purchases from the Packing House, Farmers Park or the Packard Building are permitted inside the park.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Coastal screenings can get chilly or get called for wind and rain, so have a backup plan. Newport Dunes says Lighting of the Bay is rain or shine, but festival activities, performances and concessions may change with the weather. Check the organizer the day of the show.

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