After Sunset, Enjoy Outdoor Film Festivals
Do you enjoy watching films, but don't want to waste a beautiful summer evening holed up in a packed movie theater for two hours?
Well, it is possible to combine your love of culture and nature -- at outdoor movie screenings.
It's high season to sprawl out, feel a gentle summer breeze against your face and let yourself be carried into the characters' lives on the big screen.
All summer long, films are being screened at parks, museums and other public spaces worldwide.
From New York City's
Bryant Park to the U.K.'s largest film festival in
Cambridge, England, there's most likely one not too far from your home. Most are even free, or at least cheaper than shelling out for a theater
ticket.
Under the Stars
The
Comcast Film Festival is taking place in Bethesda, Md., in mid-August, in conjunction with local art and culture institution Strathmore. The event is located just outside the Capital Beltway on a lush green lawn.
The lineup includes the classics
The Wizard of Oz
and
North by Northwest
as well as newer hits such as
Little Miss Sunshine
,
The Da Vinci Code
and
Casino Royale
.
All films are free, and the grounds open two hours before the movies start at 8:30 p.m. -- plenty of time to enjoy a dinner al fresco or catch up with old friends.
Bring your own picnic, or choose from on-site options such as fresh popcorn, pizza, salads, burgers, burritos and ice cream. This is encouraged, as a portion of the food sales will go to
Hopkins House, a nonprofit organization providing education and services to economically disadvantaged children and their families.
Classics in the City
Do you love the idea of gazing up at classic movies and a stunning city skyline? Then check out the
Chicago Outdoor Film Festival, now in its eighth year, which runs from July 17 to Aug. 28.
The high quality of this festival is what makes it stand out. "The movies are shown on 35 mm print.
Other movies are shown on DVD -- not every older film has a good 35 mm print," says Kathy Byrne, festival coordinator. This format gives the image an exceptionally crisp and vivid look.
Each Tuesday night at sunset (ranging from about 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.), catch free movies including
Young Frankenstein
,
Double Indemnity
,
Sweet Smell of Success
,
The Sound of Music
,
Written on the Word
and
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
. "We are trying to get back to pre-1980 movies," says Byrne.
Get there early, as this is a popular event, attracting as many as 40,000 people per screening, Byrne notes.
The festival is held in the central location of Grand Park, which is in the heart of downtown Chicago and right along Lake Shore Drive.
Taking public transportation or biking is encouraged to avoid congestion, and although no bikes are allowed into the screening area, there is a complimentary bike valet service.
In addition,
Charles Schwab
is sponsoring the screening of
The Sound of Music
for the first time this year, says Byrne -- Schwab clients will be treated to a swank, invitation-only party right on the grounds.
Sights and Sounds
If you love music and movies, then look to the Denver Film Society, which is sponsoring the
Films on the Rocks Series.
Here, in a breathtaking, naturally formed rock amphitheater, you can relish unparalleled acoustics with a live music performance as well as a movie.
This festival goes from the end of June to the end of July, and the lineup this year includes
Dazed and Confused
, accompanied by the band Coors New Sound Throwdown and Ash Ganley;
Pulp Fiction
with The Beloved Invaders; and
The Shining
with Douglas Cameron.
This event isn't free, but it's only $10 per ticket (available at King Soopers stores or
online).
Viewing Tips
Since you'll be there for a few hours, bring a blanket or a low beach chair (so you don't block others' views) or even a pillow -- it will be as cozy as your own living room, but with a much better screen.
Do arrive early to beat the inevitable crowds and to pick your ideal viewing spot. And be sure to check the festivals' Web sites before you head out, as many don't allow alcohol or pets.
Instead of being cooped up in a theater or on your couch, catch a movie outside this summer. You'll get to check out a favorite film, enjoy the fresh air and escape from reality for a few hours.
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