Bring a blanket and set up to watch a new favorite or recent blockbuster at these free outdoor movie nights across Pennsylvania.
With the warmer temperatures of summer (finally!), it’s the perfect time to relax outdoors—especially at a free movie screening. This summer, there are dozens of outdoor events across the state where you can watch great movies for free, usually at parks or other green spaces. Some are hosted by cities and towns, while others are brought to the public thanks to arts societies and other nonprofits. But no matter how the films make their way to you, these movie nights are great opportunities for free summer entertainment, often complete with popcorn, concessions, and pre-movie fun.
Free outdoor movies in western Pennsylvania
Greater Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s city parks and the Allegheny County Parks will both host free outdoor movie series. Movies begin at dusk.
Pittsburgh Parks
Pittsburgh’s Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park event series shows free outdoor movies through August at 15 different city parks. Some parks will play one movie, while others will show as many as six. Most parks will screen family-friendly movies, though some PG-13 films will be shown; Riverview Park, for example, is showing six PG-13 movies, including “Hamnet” and “F1: The Movie.” Check out the full schedule, by park, online.
Allegheny County Parks
Allegheny County Parks will host Movies in the Parks at nine county parks in and around Pittsburgh this summer. In addition, before the movies, free activities—themed to the movies playing that night—will be available for families. Think a presentation from the park rangers before “Hoppers,” a dance party courtesy of the Joy School of Dance before “Lilo and Stitch,” and Lego building with Bricksburgh before “The Minecraft Movie.” Check out the full schedule online.
Greater Erie
Erie County’s Edinboro has announced dates for its outdoor movie series. As for Erie proper, the Erie Downtown Partnership has not yet announced 2026 dates for its Movie Mondays events but may relaunch the outdoor movie series in a new location this year.
Edinboro
Free outdoor movie series Movies Under the Stars will take place at two locations in Erie County’s Edinboro, depending on the movie: PennWest Edinboro (near the Pogue Student Center) and Goodell Gardens & Homestead. The family-friendly movies will be shown at PennWest Edinboro throughout July and at Goodell Gardens in August. Check out the full schedule online.
Free outdoor movies in northeastern Pennsylvania
Scranton
Scranton’s Movies in the Parks series shows family favorites on free movie nights held across various city parks through October. Many movie nights include appearances by the Rolling Conez ice cream truck and Gertrude Hawks Chocolates, as well as pre-movie fun and games.
Free outdoor movies in the Lehigh Valley
Head to Lehigh Valley parks—or SteelStacks—to see popular, family-friendly films this summer.
Bethlehem
SteelStacks
The Levitt Pavilion at Bethlehem’s SteelStacks will host its Movies on the Lawn this summer, with five free movies playing beginning in July. Concessions will be available at the pavilion and at the ArtsQuest Center. All movies will be in English with Spanish subtitles. What’s more, “The Lion King” will be introduced by the PA Shakespeare Festival—you did know that “The Lion King” was inspired by “Hamlet”? Check out the full schedule of Levitt Pavilion films online.
Bethlehem Parks
The city of Bethlehem will host four Movies in the Park events in June and July at four different city parks. Popcorn will be provided! Check out the full schedule online.
Allentown
Allentown’s Movies in the Parks will host family-friendly movie nights at various city parks through August. Pre-movie fun takes place an hour before the movies start, around dusk. Check out the full schedule of the newer, popular films online.
Free outdoor movies in Greater Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania’s largest city has numerous opportunities to catch free movies in parks and other green spaces this summer. Movies begin around dusk.
Independence Mall
Philadelphia’s Historic District will host a number of free movie showings this summer on Independence Mall. At Movies on the Mall, screens are set up just outside the Independence Visitor Center and will play movies with themes connected to Independence National Historical Park, such as “National Treasure” and “Harriet.” Plus, free popcorn will be provided! Registration is encouraged but not required. Check out the full screening schedule online.
Philadelphia Parks
More than 20 Philadelphia parks will host their own free summer (and fall!) movie nights, coordinated by Park Friends Groups. The nearly two dozen screenings run on select dates through October and include six opportunities to see “Zootopia 2.” Check out the full schedule online—though stay up to date with any schedule changes through your local Park Friends Group.
Schuylkill Banks
This summer, watch free outdoor movies on the banks of the Schuylkill River, with free movies showing on Thursday nights either at the Grays Ferry Crescent Esplanade or in the grassy area just north of the Walnut Street Bridge. Many of the movies selected by the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, such as “Office Space,” “Dirty Dancing,” and “Jaws,” would be enjoyed by teens and adults—though everyone loves “A League of Their Own” and “The LEGO Batman Movie.” Check out the full schedule online.
Philadelphia suburbs
The suburban counties around Philadelphia will host several outdoor movie nights this summer. Most free movie screenings are hosted by individual boroughs or by area institutions—and this is just a sampling of what will be showing around the ‘burbs!
Montgomery County’s Plymouth Meeting is showing four free outdoor movies at the Greater Plymouth Community Center in June and July, with DJ entertainment before the films start at dusk. Check out the full schedule.
Eagleview Town Center in Chester County’s Exton will screen a series of movies, including the cult classic “Clueless,” on Monday nights this summer. Check out the full schedule.
Delaware County’s Media is hosting a free outdoor movie night each month through October. Plus, free popcorn! Check out the full schedule on Media’s event calendar.
The Mercer Museum in Bucks County’s Doylestown is presenting free movies on the museum green this summer, together with the County Theater and Shankweiler’s Drive-In. One movie per month will play in June, July, and August. Movies at the Mercer Museum are free, but you can register in advance so staff know how many people to expect. Check out the full schedule.
Free outdoor movies in central Pennsylvania
Communities across the wide region of central Pennsylvania are hosting free outdoor movie nights this summer. Here’s just a selection.
Harrisburg
Each summer, Harrisburg’s Friends of Midtown hosts a series of free, family-friendly movies in the Midtown Cinema parking lot. This season, bring a lawn chair to check out movies such as “Mean Girls” in August and “The NeverEnding Story” in September.
Gettysburg
Gettysburg’s Cinema Under the Stars regularly hosts free movie showings at Seminary Ridge, coordinated by the Gettysburg Film Commission. The commission regularly posts about upcoming movie nights on social media.
State College
This summer, State College is hosting its Movies Under the Stars series at Sidney Friedman Park. Bring your own chair or blanket to enjoy the free, family-friendly films.
Lancaster
Head to downtown Lancaster’s Binns Park for free movie nights every fourth Friday through September. You can see classic, family-friendly movies like “The Sandlot,” “Night at the Museum,” and “Hidden Figures.”
Tips for catching free outdoor movies
- All of these events are BYOC—bring your own chair! Since most free outdoor movie screenings are in parks or on grassy lawns, you’ll need to bring your own seating, whether you’re more comfortable in lawn chairs or lying down on a blanket.
- Most movies start at dusk—the darker part of twilight that occurs after sunset. If you’re unsure when dusk falls, check an app or webpage, like this handy dusk calculator at suntoday.org.
- Get to the movie night early if you’d like your choice of viewing spot.
- Some outdoor movie nights will offer food and drink for purchase, while others might offer free popcorn. But you can always pack your own snacks or picnic foods.
- You might want to bring bug spray just in case the mosquitoes are out in full force.
- Confirm a movie is still on by checking the schedule or relevant social media page. For example, movie nights will sometimes be canceled due to weather—but they might be rescheduled for a different date!
