Outdoor Cinematic Tour of Gig Harbor and Beyond
It’s not every day you get the memorable experience of staying outside to watch movies under the stars – but it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss out on! So, to make sure you catch the perfect outdoor movie and location, I’ve listed all outdoor 2025 summer movies in Gig Harbor, near Gig Harbor and notable outdoor movies worth the drive or detour in your Washington state travels. All you have to do, is mark your calendar, prepare your blankets or low-back chairs, grab your favorite movie snacks, and get ready to create some core summer night memories! And if you’re new to this experience, please read ‘til the end for some packing tips and tricks to make this experience far more magical than messy.
Gig Harbor Outdoor Movies
PenMet Summer Movies in the Park
Movies in the Park are back and free! From August 1st – 22nd you can enjoy your Friday evenings watching PG rated movies under the stars at Sehmel Homestead Park Amphitheater! You can set up and enjoy the playground, basketball court, turf football/soccer field, picnic areas, and meadow with four miles of trails to adventure on.
Friday, August 1 – The Wild Robot
Friday, August 8– Moana 2
Friday, August 15 – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Friday, August 22 – Wicked
Key Pen Parks presents Cinema Under the Stars! Head to Gateway Park and settle in for the movie to begin at dusk. There is a playground for your kids to enjoy after you find your spot!
Friday, August 8th – Elemental
Friday, August 15th – Inside Out 2
Friday, August 22nd – Moana 2
Outdoor Movies Near Gig Harbor
Rodeo Drive-In- Bremerton
March- late October
Fridays and Saturdays open at 7:30pm
Sundays open at 8pm
Show starts at 9pm
Buckle up for this blast from the past! There are less than 400 drive-in theaters left in the US, and the largest drive-in theater in the Pacific Northwest is just a quick drive to Bremerton! Tune in on your car or portable FM radio and enjoy today's best movies bright & clear on one of their 3 massive screens. You get to watch 2 movies for the price of one, but you don’t have to stay for the second one. There are restrooms, a concession stand and a playground for your kids to enjoy while you get situated for the movie. You’re welcome to stay in your vehicle, or back in your truck, blow up the mattress or law out the lawn chairs to get cozy! Check out their rules and facts page for any questions you might have!
Summer Bash and Outdoor Movies – Tacoma
This free day of fun and night of outdoor movies happens three times this summer in three different locations! Enjoy a variety of activities including inflatable slides, games, entertainment, crafts, food trucks and an outdoor movie! Each event is slightly different so check back in closer to the date for details on activities and the movie.
Saturday, August 9, 2025 | Activities begin at 2 pm, Movie begins at dusk
Saturday, August 16, 2025 | Activities begin at 2 pm, Movie begins at dusk
Friday, August 22, 2025 | 6 pm
The Grand Cinema: Free Outdoor Movie Series - Tacoma
Saturday, July 19th | 9pm
Head to Salishan Family Investment Center for this year’s fifth annual FREE outdoor movie series featuring the heart-warming kids movie, Wild Robot! The movie starts at 9pm but you’re welcome to come early and set up and sprawl out. You can pack your own snacks or enjoy a limited supply of complimentary Grand Theater popcorn passed out by TAPCO Credit Union!
Motors & Movies - Tacoma
Friday, June 27th | gates open at 6:30 pm – movie begins at sunset
LeMay - America's Car Museum will be hosting this exciting free event for the whole family! Gates open at 6:30 pm for field fun! You can grab dinner at their picnic concessions or one of the food trucks and watch in your car or from a blanket, either option will provide you with a great view of the 40-foot tall outdoor screen. If you walk or bike, no problem– there is a designated picnic area in front of the screen! It is first come first served, so plan accordingly! Check back in closer to the date for the movie choice announcement!
2025 Movie in the Park - University Place
Saturday, August 2nd | 7:30pm – Activities begin
Your whole family will enjoy this memorable evening of free family fun at Cirque Park. This event begins at 7:30 p.m. with children's activities and snack trucks! When it starts to get dark, you can spread out your blankets and cozy up for the movie! Check back here as the event gets closer to learn even more details, along with which movie will be shown!
Summer Movie at the Park – Federal Way
Town Square Park in Federal Way will be hosting 2 nights under the stars this year! You bring the blankets, and chairs and they will provide the free popcorn!
Saturday, June 28th | 9 pm: The Wild Robot
Saturday, July 26th | 8:30 pm: Moana 2
Meridian Habitat Park – Puyallup
Activities begin at 7pm | Movies begin at sunset
Bring your family to the beautiful Meridian Habitat Park for a free fun movie night experience. If you want to make a family fun day of it, there are many areas to explore and a nature playground to enjoy at this park.
The evening of family fun kicks off at 7pm with exciting preshow activities, games, and special character appearances courtesy of Emerald Kingdom Parties! You can pack your own snacks or indulge in one of the popular food trucks on site: Cup of Jones Espresso, Hot Shot Pizza, and Reigning Kettle Corn. Then settle in at sunset for the movie to begin!
On July 25, you can bring your favorite furry (non-aggressive) family members to snuggle up with while watching Dogman!
Friday, July 11th - Mufasa
Friday, July 18th – The Wild Robot
Friday, July 25th – Dogman
Skyline Theater - Shelton
Friday - Monday
Gate opens at 6:00 p.m. | Show Time - Dusk
Rain or shine, you can count on Skyline Theater to open each March for some memorable weekend evenings! They offer 2 movies at a family friendly price and ask that you keep outside food and drink home and help support their concession stand.
Outdoor Movies Over an Hour from Gig Harbor
Movies in Battle Point Park – Bainbridge Island
The Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District proudly presents Movies in the Park at Battle Point Park each Friday in August! In past years they have offered pre-movie activities themed to that night’s feature film, lawn games, giveaways and more, so check back in closer to the date to see what’s in store. Seating begins at 8pm!
Friday, August 1st | 8 pm – Freaky Friday
Friday, August 8th | 8 pm – Footloose (1984)
Friday, August 15th | 8 pm – Barbie
Friday, August 22nd | 8 pm – The Matrix
Friday, August 29th | 8 pm – Galaxy Quest
Movies at The Mural – Seattle
If you haven’t had the chance to experience outdoor movies at Seattle Center, I highly recommend you add one of these movies to your calendar. It might be a late night for the kids if you have a drive ahead of you, but it’s perfect for a date night out! Enjoy your picnic on the gently sloping Mural Amphitheatre lawn, in front of a state-of-the-art 40-foot screen, with the Space Needle looming above. Movies begin at dusk (about 9pm) Fridays in August. Each feature is preceded by a short film by students at Cornish College for the Arts at Seattle University and alumni of the UW Professional & Continuing Education's (PCE) Film & Video Production certificate program.
Friday, July 25th – Ratatouille
Friday, August 1st – The Princess Bride
Friday, August 8th – E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
Friday, August 15th – Say Anything
Friday, August 22nd - Wicked
Blue Fox Drive-In Theater - Oak Harbor (Whidbey Island)
Friday, Saturday & Sundays: 4pm-1am
This drive in is open all year, in all weather! The movies start at dusk, and close when the last movie is over. Their movie selection does not disappoint! While there are no outside food or drink allowed, you can enjoy their snack bar that remains open during the entire movie. While you’re there, have a blast at the arcade or take some go-karts for a spin! Blue Fox is a bit of a drive for many, so they kindly offer RV and tent camping to keep the roads safe after the movies!
Wheel-In – Port Townsend
Friday, Saturday & Sundays
Box Office Opens 7:30 p.m. | Show Time - Dusk
Nestled in the woods is this sweet drive-in theater celebrating its 73rd year running! Come hungry and enjoy some pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos or many other options at their indoor snack bar with booth seating. They also offer FM radio rentals for those who need it!
BECU Movies at Marymoor Park - Marymoor
Movies at this large, beautiful park are always worth the ticket price and drive! Kids 5 and under are free, but each vehicle must pay and additional $10 for parking, not included in the $11.38 movie price per person. Once you get past the gates you will be delighted by the organization for optimal viewing. There are 3 designated seating options depending on the type of seating you bring:
Section 1: Blankets and ground seating only (no raised chairs)
Section 2: Low-back / sand chairs and ground seating only (no camp chairs)
Section 3: Open seating, camp chairs, sand chairs and ground seating
Those arriving by foot, bicycle or with a dog, are more than welcome!
Click on each movie for opening times and to see which food trucks will be available.
Outdoor Movie Tips and Tricks
If you have haven’t experienced the delight of an outdoor movie yet, you might not be sure what to expect. This list has you covered! To provide examples of items you may want to bring, I have attached links, simply as a visual for your convenience.
Outdoor pop-up movies are free!
Unless otherwise stated, all movies are free, and some have optional donations.
Check for outside food and drink restrictions
While most pop-up movie venues encourage you to bring your own snacks and drinks, some of the drive-in’s do not. Please double check the food and drink rules, regulations and options, especially regarding alcoholic beverages. These free movies are a great opportunity to support the local vendors that may be available.
Arrive early and claim your spot:
Many parks also have playgrounds. This is convenient for arriving early, staking your claim with blankets and chairs and letting the kids get out some energy on the playground before the movie begins.
If there are no playgrounds:
Let each kid pack their own sleeping bag or activity bag (coloring kits, activity books, cards, books, etc.) that they are responsible for carrying (if old enough).
Foldable wagons are perfect for transporting many items, coolers and kids. Some can carry up to 350 pounds. As a courtesy reminder, it is best to fold them back down after transport to make more room and less visual barriers for those around you.
Keep it low:
Blankets and low-back seating are an outdoor movie must! Most movies do not allow seating higher than a low back chair, with the exception to wheelchair accessibility.
Make sure packed items and coolers are low to the ground as well.
Summer packing items for convenience and fun:
Pack your sleeping bag rolls with extra socks, gloves, beanies, rumple jackets, warm pajamas (or wear them there) and pillow. I highly recommend waterproof or resistant sleeping bags to avoid soaking up spill or moisture in the air.
Inflatable camping pillows are a great option for carrying light and keeping your head warm and dry.
Portable camping sleeping mats that are low to the ground and easy to inflate can really help provide some indoor comfort for your outdoor movie experience.
Low back recliners are a comfortable and mindful way to enjoy these events!
Extra pool floaties lying around? They are a fun way to provide extra padding and personal space!
No spill reusable bottles for your sanity.
Individually packed lunch boxes might help to keep your kids settled in their own space with their own snacks (but no guarantees).
A plastic bag to collect your personal garbage.
Fun extras for the kids:
Feeling extra creative and ambitious? Keep the kids or whole family contained with a low inflatable pool –filled with blankets, pillows, and dry bodies of course!
No spill bubbles will keep your littles busy while you wait for the movie to begin.
Glow stick necklace and bracelets are always fun!
Movie night snack kits for one or the whole family.
For the Drive-In:
May your movie night under the stars provide you with the happiest memories this summer!
