There’s just something about a classic movie and a warm, summer evening that go together so darn well. With summer breezing in, now’s the perfect time to start planning a movie night party for a few friends. We’ve got the ideas and tips to make yours go off without a hitch:
Throwing an outdoor movie night doesn't have to require a lot of stuff or be expensive, but it does need a little planning ahead to make sure everyone enjoys themselves. We've rounded up a list of tips to think about when planning your next outdoor movie night:
1) Pick the right spot You'll want to find a spot—could be a backyard, patio, porch, garage—where you can control the amount of light at night (in other words, don't plan one in your backyard if there's a bright streetlight that could ruin the fun). Not everyone has a backyard, so get creative with your space!
2) Provide the right equipment Your basic essentials are a movie player (like a DVD player or computer), a screen or side of a house, a projector and a sound system. Don't let that sound too complicated; it's easier to set up than you think. And don't let the price or technology scare you away; you can easily have an intimate movie night with a television set or computer brought outside, too.
3) Make sure you've got a good movie Consider the crowd that will be coming and choose accordingly. It could be a classic, a family-friendly one or a great comedy. We've rounded up a list of our Best Summertime Movies for Movie Night before.
4) Accommodate with comfortable seating You don't have to go out and buy fancy outdoor seating, blankets on the ground can be the perfect thing for a movie night, but plenty of affordable outdoor seating options can be found.
5) De-bug the area Consider spraying before guests arrive and have plenty of bug spray for guests. You don't have to douse yourself in harsh chemicals; they have lots of more natural options to repel bugs.
6) Utilize soft lights like candles You want it dark enough to see the movie, but you also want a little light for function and ambiance.
7) Don’t forget to get your neighbors involved An outdoor movie event could potentially be disturbing to the homes around yours, so let your neighbors know ahead of time your plans and maybe even invite them to the fun!
Do you throw outdoor movie nights? What are your tips for creating a fabulous outdoor movie night?
(Images: Outdoor Movie Night and Flickr member [nurpax] )
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This prompted me to look up the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival, only to discover that it got the ax due to budget problems last fall! :(
We've been doing outdoor movies for a couple of years. Our summers are hot, buggy and wet so we quit in April.
We also do holiday theme movies. For Halloween, we invited all the neighbors to come in costume, set up a treat table for trick-or-treaters, and watched "Monsters, Inc." For Christmas, we watched the "A Christmas Story" and ate cookies.
Neighbors love it. Kids take spare seats and never want to leave. Everyone brings snacks to share. A firepit on a cool night helps with the ambiance and is good for cooking hot dogs.
And don't forget to turn the automatic lawn sprinkler system OFF!
*voice of experience...*
If you read the original source (http://backyardtheater.com/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=7b298a2d8e79ba1a43e66f9127c70ba2&topic=284.0)
you'll see that the projector is the most expensive part of this equation. It's not as easy as just buying something at the mall. Mounting the projector for optimum resolution can be a little tricky.
This is a cool idea, but once again, I wish AT bloggers would actually do the stuff they suggest so blithely.
(And here in LA--where are the outdoor screenings?)
My girlfriend and I have been doing the the outdoor movie night for the last two years. Here's our movie line up:
Saturday, June 5th The Cowboys
A very un-John Wayne John Wayne western.
Saturday July 24th Hands on a Hard Body
You know those contests where you try to be the last one with your hands on the car....there's a documentary for that!
Saturday August 14th Endless Summer
The ultimate surf movie!
*******It's a Luau potluck*********
September 18th Stardust
An ensemble cast fantasy epic adventure quest all rolled into one.
October 23rd Bubba Ho Tep
Make it a theme! People can dress up like characters or the time period of the movie and you can serve food and decorate accordingly as well. Makes it all the more fun if you love themes as much as i do! We did a "Stand By Me" night and served campfire style food (hotdogs etc) and took a break to have a "pie eating contest" (really just people eating delicious blueberry pie).
Also before buying a projector (theyre expensive) see if any friends have one that you can borrow.
This is such a fun thing to do on summer nights!
While I'm not saying censor yourself, do consider your neighbors (if they're close by) in your movie selection. You and your guests may be okay with the latest slasher film, but your neighbors with small children may not.
(I say this as the voice of reason in a group of diehard horror film fans)
Mr. Faux!
There are outdoor screenings almost every weekend this summer, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery!
http://www.cinespia.org/
It's a blast, though it has become slightly overgrown. I recommend getting there early!! You can bring food, wine, kids, whatever suits yr fancy!
Absolutely BeckyJo! My husband and I saw The Haunting there, and it was such a cool experience. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to relax on!
I moderate an outdoor movie community online and this would be a very helpful article for the members.
Do you mind if I add it to our site?