Picnic and a Movie: Best Outdoor Movie Nights in Los Angeles

September 19, 2013 K. Pearson Brown

Los Angeles is known for its weather and its love of the movies, so it is a natural that Angelenos enjoy watching movies under the stars. Here is a quick guide to some of the best alfresco movie nights in the city.

Creep Show

The granddaddy of outdoor movies, Cinespia (www.cinespia.org), which runs through September 21, boasts a most unique location on the grassy Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with films projected on the mausoleum of Rudolph Valentino, amid the final resting places for other movie greats like Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield and Douglas Fairbanks.

Thousands of patrons bring their picnic dinners and cast their blankets on the graveyard grounds for the weekend movie nights, with a DJ warming up the crowd before the movie starts. Chairs up to 21 inches tall and wine and beer are permitted, but no spirits, except for the ones that might be lurking there. Admission is $12 – $15, with higher pricing for special events, such as a screening of Breaking Bad with cast members, priced at $45.

Movie Sense

If a name says it all, then Eat/See/Hear is all you need to know about this premier outdoor movie night, food truck and live music event series. The two-year-old series, presented by SHOWTIME, features up and coming bands from the local music scene, hip and hot food trucks and a three-story high, 52-foot wide inflatable movie screen with HD-projection and digital surround sound. This Halloween season, the series will chill audiences with Eat|See|Hear|SCREAM, featuring a timeless Halloween movies throughout October, starting with a drive-in screening of Poltergeist on October 12 at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, followed by Ghostbusters on October 19 at Centennial Square at Pasadena City Hall, and The Shining on October 26 at LA Historic Park. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., and the band performs at 6:00 p.m. The movie begins at 7:30 p.m. Get tickets at the door or online at http://eatseehear.eventbrite.com for $12. A limited number of $20 premium reserved seats are also available, and old-timey lawn are available for rent.

Starry Nights

The Hollywood Bowl (www.hollywoodbowl.com) is known for its prestigious outdoor concert series at its famed amphitheater, but sprinkled in the mix are special showings of classic and cult movies.

The see-and-be-seen box seats at the Hollywood Bowl offer a great vantage and cozy seating for movie sing-alongs

Not to miss is the Bowl’s annual Grease sing-along, where patrons don Pink Lady wigs, pedal pushers and leather jackets and interact with the movie by blowing bubbles during Beauty School Dropout and waving pom poms during the pep rally.

Audience members can follow along with the subtitled lyrics of the soundtrack, with appropriate censorship, such as an icon of a kitty in place of the “P” word in Greased Lighting. On September 21, the Bowl hosts a sing-along of the classic The Sound of Music. Patrons are encouraged to wear costumes for a pre-show parade for this beloved classic that is sure to bring the Hollywood Hills alive.

Patrons at the Hollywood Bowl picnic before the outdoor movie

Camp Beverly Hills

Though a much more intimate gathering than some of the large-scale outdoor movie nights around town, the City of Beverly Hills presents Sunday Movie Nights (www.beverlyhills.org) along with musical performance as part of its Concerts on Canon outdoor event series. The film selection is family friendly, including classics like Mary Poppins and kids favorites like Back to the Future and Wreck-It Ralph.

The City of Beverly Hills hosts Sunday Night movies screened on a 20-foot inflatable screen at the hidden gem of a park, the Beverly Cañon Gardens.

Movies are screened on a 20-foot inflatable screen at the hidden gem of a park, the Beverly Cañon Gardens, at 241 N. Cañon Drive, between the Montage Hotel and Bouchon. Showtime is 8pm, but come early and bring your picnic dinner and get a good spot in the open grass area, or if you prefer, seating available on a first-come basis. Park free in the Beverly Canon Gardens parking structure with validation from the Concert Information Table.

Take to the Helms

The Helms Bakery complex, surrounded by artsy galleries and trendy eateries, is the perfect location for the Helms Bakery Sunset Cinema (www.helmsbakerydistrict.com), featuring music-themed movies. The series runs Saturdays in September, showing fun and campy films like Enchanted and Mamma Mia! Go early to shop, grab a bite to eat, and then join your friends and neighbors on the pedestrian plaza in front of Room & Board furniture gallery, at 8758 Venice Boulevard in Culver City. Showtime is 7:17, and admission is free and chairs are provided.

Park and Eat

Street Food Cinema’s (www.streetfoodcinema.com) name says it all. Held May to September, the event features outdoor movies projected on a giant inflatable screen surrounded by food trucks. The evening begins with a live mini concert featuring local musical talent, followed by popular flicks and cult classics like Pitch Perfect, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Swingers.

At Street Food Cinema there’s not much walking room amidst the wall-to-wall people and patchwork of blankets, so the key is to arrive when doors open at 6 pm and stake your piece of grass.

There’s not much walking room amidst the wall-to-wall people and patchwork of blankets, so the key is to arrive when doors open at 6 pm and stake your piece of grass. Even in the reserved grassy area up front space is tight. Most events are held at Exposition Park with special nights at LA Historic Park and other locations. The food trucks are some of the best in LA, including Kogi BBQ, Cousins Maine Lobster, Belly Bombz, Dogtown Dog, Reuben Truck, and The Melt Bus. The lines for the food trucks get long, and service can be slow, so plan accordingly. Low chairs are permitted in the front grounds, and an area in the back is marked for higher chairs. General admission is $10, reserved seating is $15, and children are $5 and children under 5 are free.

Bring It

Pack a picnic for movie night that will impress your date but not break the bank. Safeway’s chef, Jeff Anderson, offers creative and affordable appetizer ideas that you can pick up at your local market. Anderson suggests elegant and tasty cracker snacks layered with Primo Taglio roast beef drizzled with horseradish, topped with white cheddar cheese cut in triangles and served on Open Nature Rosemary Crisp crackers. For dessert, create sweet bites with halved Driscoll strawberries, drizzled with Safeway Select Balsamic Reserve Vinegar, sprinkled with Maldon Sea Salt and topped with thin-sliced Primo Taglio Parmeggiano Reggiano. All ingredients, along with quick pre-made salads and entrees that are suited for serving cold or room temperature can be found at the deli departments at Vons and Pavilions.

Take along CalNaturale (www.calnaturale.com) wine, made from organic grapes and packaged in eco-friendly Tetra Paks. The resealable, portable cardboard carafe carries easily and will pass through the backpack search at the entrance at venues where no glass is allowed.