• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

5 Free Outdoor Movie Events in Austin This Spring and Summer

April 2, 2018 by Joleen Jernigan 1 Comment

Free Outdoor Movie Events in Austin

Credit: Liz Kreutz

Spring sends Austinites scattering across the city hiking the Greenbelt, walking our dogs, swimming in spring-fed pools, and drinking on patios. Another joy of the season is going to outdoor movie events in Austin. Our city’s movies in the park scene is like an infinity mirror–it keeps going and going. Here are five of the best, free outdoor movie events in Austin.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on, picnic or tacos to munch on, and something to drink. Wherever Austinites go, food trucks follow, so food trucks will usually be an option at these movies. Remember, though, that alcohol is never allowed at these screenings, nor are glass bottles or Styrofoam containers. And while friendly dogs on leashes are allowed at some of these events, due to the booming speakers and crowds, it is unwise to bring them.

1/ Austin Parks Foundation Movies in the Park

Outdoor Movie Events in Austin, Texas

Austin Parks Foundation offers free Movies in the Park all spring and summer (Credit: Liz Kreutz)

Beloved nonprofit Austin Parks Foundation works to improve the lives of Austinites by picking up where city resources leave off, presenting its annual Movies in the Park series throughout spring and summer at parks across Austin. For this year’s series, the foundation is partnering with Alamo Drafthouse and Whole Foods Market.

“We’re excited to present such a fun lineup for this year’s Movies in the Park series,” said Colin Wallis, Austin Parks Foundation CEO. “We hope Austinites will join us in parks across the city and take this opportunity to enjoy free, quality outdoor entertainment.”

Movies in the Park Series Austin

Austinites huddle in close for Austin Parks Foundation’s Movies in the Park events (Credit: Liz Kreutz)

The 2018 Austin Parks Foundation Movies in the Park events all have a musical component, so plan on singing along to your favorites. Expect food trucks, too!

See the schedule below and plan a night out soon.

  • “The Lion King” – April 5, Northwest District Park
  • “The Emperor’s New Groove” – May 10, Dick Nichols Park
  • “Coco” – May 17, Dove Springs Park
  • “How to Train Your Dragon” – June 21, Patterson Park
  • “10 Things I Hate About You” – August 16, Martin Multipurpose Fields
  • “Beauty and the Beast” – September 6, Adams Hemphill Park
  • “Hook” – September 20, Govalle Park
  • “Practical Magic” –  October 25, Palm Park
  • “Selena” – November 8, Republic Square Park

Various locations – Website

2/ Community Cinema & Amphitheater

Community Cinema Food Truck Austin

Community Cinema’s food truck sales help support a dignified income for Community First! Village’s formerly homeless residents (Credit: Margaret Licarione)

Community Cinema & Ampitheater is located at a haven for Austin’s formerly homeless population, Community First! Village. This cinema, with donated equipment from community partner and sponsor, Alamo Drafthouse, has begun its second season.

Community Cinema and Amphitheater

A crowd gathers to watch movies at Community Cinema & Amphitheater (Credit: Margaret Licarione)

According to Ed Travis, Community Cinema Director,

“The Community Cinema & Amphitheater is the result of a plan hatched between Alamo Drafthouse CEO Tim League and Mobile Loaves & Fishes CEO Alan Graham. The outdoor amphitheater hosts public events and is available for private event rentals, as well. Events in the amphitheater open up the Community First! Village to the Austin public at large, to share about what we’re doing to restore community and housing to Austin’s chronically homeless folks. Neighbors who live at Community First! Village are given an opportunity to earn a dignified income through food sales and audio/visual assistance at each and every event hosted in our amphitheater.”

Family Activities at Community Cinema Austin

Families pre-game before “The Lego Movie” at Community Cinema & Amphitheater (Credit: Margaret Licarione)

Community Cinema & Ampitheater offers  a strong lineup of recent blockbuster movies. The vibe is playful, as befitting an Alamo Drafthouse event, with themed fun included at every showing.

Here is the schedule for movies throughout April 2018. All scheduled events are regularly updated and listed on Community Cinema’s Facebook page.

  • “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” – April 6
  • “Wonder” – April 13
  • “Pitch Perfect 3” – April 20
  • “Ferdinand” – April 27

9301 Hog Eye Road – Website

➡ Keep reading: Community First! Village Goes Beyond Housing for Austin Homeless

3/ Sound and Cinema at The Long Center

Sound and Cinema is partly exactly how it sounds and partly way cooler. Alamo Drafthouse (coming through for our community yet again) and Do512 team up every summer to present a fun series of movies with mini-concerts opening each event.

The planning team is excellent at pairing films with local bands. For example, a few summers ago, we saw “Raiders of the Lost Ark” opened by The Golden Dawn Arkestra. How whimsical, no?

Sound and Cinema Outdoor Movie Event Austin

Austinites pack the lawn at The Long Center for Sound and Cinema each summer (Credit: Christopher Sherman/Over Austin)

It’s quite serene to chill out in the shadow of The Long Center’s dramatic columns, gazing at Austin’s downtown skyline beyond the big screen. Get the 2018 schedule here.

Pro tip: This is one of the most heavily-attended events in this article, so go early and consider ride sharing, carpooling, biking, or taking public transportation.

701 W. Riverside Dr. – Facebook

4/ Deep Eddy Splash Party Movie Nights

Deep Eddy Pool Splash Party

Deep Eddy Pool Splash Party movies kick off in early summer (Credit: City of Austin PARD, Aquatics Office)

Texas summer kicks in, and all we want in life is to be in water and shade, a respite from the sun’s relentlessness, a way to cool off. Deep Eddy Pool, one of Austin’s most delightful treasures, hosts movies in the pool, called a Splash Party, on a few dates each summer.

The normal Deep Eddy entry fee still applies, but the movies are technically free. The Deep Eddy movie roster is kid-friendly, so this is a family affair by all means. Deep Eddy will release its summer schedule soon. Check the website for details.

401 Deep Eddy Dr. – Website

5/ 101X Summer Cinema Series

A post shared by Melissa Taylor (@geekdesignmom) on Jul 26, 2017 at 8:09pm PDT


This long-running movies in the park series has a new home at Republic Square Park this year. While the 2018 dates for the 101x Summer Cinema Series have been announced, the lineup of movies has not. The series moves to Thursday nights this year, and the official dates are:

  • June 7
  • June 21
  • July 12
  • July 26
  • August 9

The 101x team will release the schedule soon. Follow the Austin radio station on Facebook or keep checking the link below.

422 Guadalupe St. – Website

Making the Most of Outdoor Movie Events in Austin

These outdoor movie events in Austin make for stellar date nights, family outings, or group hangs. Plan ahead with sunscreen and water to hydrate, plus something to sit on. Early arrivals get the choicest seats.

While I’ve covered the bigger series here, check your local Parks and Rec calendars. When school gets out, events tend to pop up in several neighborhoods around town. Happy viewing!

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

What are your favorite outdoor movie events in Austin?

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Film

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Austin Parks Fndtn
Austin Parks Fndtn
7 years ago

Movies in the Park by Austin Parks Foundation is also a great option 🙂 We’ve got Tremors this week, followed by The Incredibles and 180 Degrees South in July!

austinparks.org/moviesinthepark

0
Reply

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin this week of May 29 | Ascension Seton CapTex Tri

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of May 29 include Ascension Seton CapTex Tri, Josh Gates Live, and more!

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of May 29, 2023, include Ascension Seton CapTex Tri, Josh Gates Live, Memorial Day: Remember and Honor Event, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the […]

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of May 26 | Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of May 26, 2023 include Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show, Dripping Springs Fair & Rodeo, & more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of May 26, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show, Dripping Springs Fair & Rodeo, Woodland Faerie Trail Opening […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend of May 26 | Hot Luck Fest

11 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of May 26, 2023 include Hot Luck Fest, 14th Annual Lone Star Jam, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of May 26 which include Hot Luck Fest, 14th Annual Lone Star Jam, Dripping Springs Fair & Rodeo on Memorial Day Weekend, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may […]

Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 - celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 – celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Get ready to make this Austin Memorial Day weekend unforgettable! Whether you are looking forward to Memorial Day fireworks 2023 Austin or Memorial Day weekend concerts, there are a number of things to do on Memorial Day weekend Austin. Here are some fun Memorial Day festivals 2023 events to help you make the most of […]

Mother's Day Specials in Austin 2023 - 40+ Verified Discounts and Freebies Near You!

Mother’s Day Specials in Austin 2023 – 40+ Verified Discounts and Freebies Near You!

Welcome to our ultimate guide to Mother’s Day specials in Austin 2023! It’s time to show the extraordinary moms in our lives just how much we adore them. To make this year’s celebration truly unforgettable, we’ve scoured through the city’s top shops and stores to compile an extraordinary list of 125 awesome deals and promos! […]

Recent Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of May 29 include Ascension Seton CapTex Tri, Josh Gates Live, and more!
  • Graduation gift ideas Austin – over 40 verified graduation sale, freebies & discounts from local restaurants & stores near you!
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of May 26, 2023 include Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show, Dripping Springs Fair & Rodeo, & more!
  • 11 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of May 26, 2023 include Hot Luck Fest, 14th Annual Lone Star Jam, and More!
  • Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 – celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 11 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of May 26, 2023 include Hot Luck Fest, 14th Annual Lone Star Jam, and More!
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of May 26, 2023 include Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show, Dripping Springs Fair & Rodeo, & more!
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.
  • Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 – celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz
x
x