As dusk falls on summer evenings, a nostalgic piece of history takes over the city as Calgarians unfold their lawn chairs and lay out their blankets to enjoy some movies under the city’s sky. From downtown rooftops to prairie terrains, outdoor movie nights are a great way to enjoy affordable fun with family and friends. In some cases, these movie nights are even free!
Movies at the Meadows
While Spruce Meadows’ outdoor cinema series kicked off in June, you can still head to the equestrian venue on July 3 for Mufasa: The Lion King at 5 p.m. and Top Gun: Maverick at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and kids between 8-12 are $5 while tots are free. Bring your blankets and low chairs.
High Park’s Movies With A View
Head to this city-centre parkade rooftop in the Beltline for amazing panoramic city views and 4K movie screenings. A perfect date-night locale where you can bring your own snacks to enjoy and the best part is, it’s free! Normally happening on select nights throughout the summer, this year’s schedule isn’t posted yet so stay tuned.
Heritage Park
On occasional summer nights, Heritage Park hosts retro and nostalgic drive-in movie nights, where patrons can enjoy movies from their cars or blankets on the grass. There was already one movie night in June, so stay tuned for Heritage Park to release what’s next on its cinema schedule.
High River’s Sunset Drive-in
Nestled in the quaint town of High River, just an hour south of Calgary, this beloved volunteer-run drive‑in brings back nostalgic charm for a good cause. Enjoy double features for just $40/car with concession snacks and washrooms on site. While the movie options aren’t yet announced, the drive-in launches its season on Aug. 1 and operates on select Fridays and Saturdays until mid‑October. The best part is that half of the proceeds go to local charities.
Trico Centre Movie in the Park
The Trico Centre is hosting its fifth annual Movie in the Park on Aug. 10, featuring The Incredibles movie for a family-friendly night out. The centre’s ball diamond is transformed into an outdoor cinema for an evening of fun, laughter and entertainment. The admission fee is $20 per family (two adults and all children from the same household under 18 included), or a single admission is $5 per person. Trico members get complimentary access by RSVP.
Tompkins Park Summer on 17 Movie Weekend
The 17th Avenue BIA hosts outdoor movies in Tompkins Park in the summer and early fall, and the best part is, it’s free! There’s always something going on at the park, and this year’s movies are slated for Sept. 12 and 13, although details are yet to come. There’s usually an earlier family-friendly showing and a date-themed option at night.
While schedules and details for 2025 are still to come, the communities of Bowness, Sunalta, the WSCR Community Association, Coach Hill Patterson Community Association, East Village, Southcentre Mall, and Deerfoot City have previously held outdoor movie night. They are expected to continue the tradition again this year. Keep an eye out for it, Scenesters.
