When you live in a city where it rains nine months out of the year, you learn how to move everything outside in the summer. Seattle boasts three regular outdoor cinemas. Here’s where they are, and how you can best enjoy them.
1. Fremont “Almost Free” Outdoor Cinema
Where?
3501 Phinney Ave N, that empty lot just across from Theo Chocolate.
What you’ll need:
Seating. It’s on concrete, so protect your backside with chairs or cushions. You can skip the suggested donation ($5) and sit outside the official seating area, but you’ll pay in sound and view.
Snacks. Outdoor cinemas don’t have popcorn machines. Come early to get a good seat and kill the hour before the movie picking up edibles. There’s good gelato around the corner.
Drinks. Remember, it’s outdoors: Consumption of alcohol is technically a no no. Hit the bars beforehand (Brouwer’s is right there) or bring a bag.
Now showing:
Fremont Outdoor Cinema tends toward the zany. This weekend, it’s Sam Raimi’s zombie/medieval fantasy spoof Army of Darkness. Preceded by Brainiac from Jet City Improv’s Twisted Flicks series, a Mystery Science Theatre 3000-style interpretation of the campiest B movies. Shows Saturday at 9:30pm.
2. Three Dollar Bill Outdoor Cinema
Where?
Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave (11th and Denny, one block east of Broadway and one block north of Pine)
What you’ll need:
Seating. Grass is more forgiving than concrete, but I’d still recommend a chair, unless you’re a yoga master.
Snacks. Again with the BYO. With the Pike Street Fish Fry, Bimbo’s and the new Molly Moon’s all within spitting distance, you can eat like a champ. Or hit up a grocery store—wine, cheese and baguette in the park, anyone?
Drinks. Paper bags or opaque cups again. Bring a flask, go to Stumptown, have an Irish coffee.
Now showing:
Three Dollar Bill’s summer series is dedicated to campy movies from 1980. Tonight, opening night: Little Darlings. Tatum O’Neal, Matt Dillon, summer camp and defloration. Screening at sunset, 9:01pm tonight.
Little Darlings, indeed.
Where?
Marymoor Park: 6046 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE, MacNair field. Marymoor’s huge, so check the map.
What you’ll need:
Like Cal Anderson, it’s on a grassy field, so chairs are optional. Make sure they’re low-backed if you bring one. Unlike the other two, this outdoor cinema is in the middle of nowhere, so you can’t just run out to find food. Bring a real picnic. 
Added bonus: Marymoor is right on the East Lake Sammamish Trail. If you can take a Wednesday off work, it’s perfectly situated for a beautiful bike ride followed by an evening at the movies.
Now showing:
Not anything, yet. Series starts Wednesday, July 29 with Tim Burton’s Coraline. Seating at 7pm, movie at dusk.
Between these and various one-off events (like next month’s NWFF Bike-In), you can see a movie every week of the summer and never have to go inside!
