Tag Archives: outdoor movies

Summer Movies 2026

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photo from https://kingcountyparks.org/tag/movies-at-marymoor/
photo from https://kingcountyparks.org/tag/movies-at-marymoor/

Whether you’re looking for outdoor movies to enjoy those warm summer evenings, or indoor movie clubs for those hot summer mornings when you really just need some A/C, or a drive-in movie, here are some options in the Seattle / King County area for summer 2026.

Kids’ Summer Movie Clubs

As you may remember from your own childhood, these are probably the cheapest, easiest way to entertain kids for two hours on a summer morning…

  • Cinemark: Totem Lake in Kirkland – On Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 am.  (Lincoln Square is not listed this year, though they have been in the past.) June 1 – Aug 6. $1.75. Schedule here: https://cinemark.com/summer-movie-clubhouse#  $1 off concessions.
  • Regal Summer Movie Express, Each week from June 1 to August 13 get $1 tickets starting at 11AM Monday through Thursday. Participating theaters: Bella Bottega, Redmond; Crossroads, Bellevue; Thornton Place, Seattle; Meridian, Seattle; Issaquah Highlands; The Landing in Renton; Alderwood. Attendess also get $3 off a snack pack.
  • AMC Summer Camp Movies. $3. Mondays and Wednesdays, varying times. Woodinville, Factoria, Oak Tree and Pacific Place. Snack pack for $6.29 plus tax.

Outdoor Movies

Below, I list all the outdoor movie series in King County. All information is current as of 5/18/26- but check individual websites for updates or changes!

Note: all outdoor movies start around “dusk”. In  the Pacific Northwest, that means starting around 9 – 9:30 pm in July and 8:30 – 9 in August, so outdoor movies aren’t compatible with early bedtimes.

Get some handy tips / etiquette advice for outdoor movies here and here. Top tips are: go early for good seating location, bring a sweatshirt and blankets, as the weather cools quickly after dark, and if you bring a chair, make sure it’s a low profile chair so you don’t block anyone’s view. It doesn’t hurt to have a flashlight to find your way to the bathroom or port-a-potty – just be sure to shine it only at the ground in front of you not up in people’s eyes.

Tuesdays

Bellevue has offered Movies in the Park at Bellevue’s Downtown Park in past years, but on 5/18/26 I can’t find any info on their website about this year’s plans.

Wednesdays and Thursdays

  • Movies at Marymoor Park in Redmond. 7/8 – 8/26. $10 per person (5 and under free), $2.50 to park. Seating opens at 7:30 early in the season and 6:30 later on. Live entertainment, trivia, food trucks, vendors.

Thursdays

Bellevue has offered Movies in the Park in Crossroads Park on Thursday evenings in past years, but on 5/18/26 I can’t find any info on their website about this year’s plans.

Fridays

Saturdays

  • Movies in the Park, Marysville. FREE. Jennings Park.
  •  Outdoor Summer Movies. Kirkland. Note: they have a super bright screen, so they can start before dusk, which makes this a good option for younger kids – double features show at 6 pm and 8 pm. Juanita Beach.  Free

Fridays/Saturdays

Drive-In Movies

There aren’t many classic drive-ins left…  Here’s what’s still open within a two hour drive from Seattle:

The only other one in the state is Auto-vue Drive-in – Colville, WA. 6 hours from Seattle. www.facebook.com/Auto-Vue-Drive-In-Theatre-120740527937813/ 

Movies start at dusk… see note above. If you go to a drive-in, PLEASE spend lots of money at concessions!!! That’s what will keep these classic theaters open in future summers!!

Learn more about the drive-in. movie experience (And in this article)

Parent Guides to Media

If you’re looking for advice on whether a particular movie is kid appropriate, check out Common Sense Media which provides reviews of movies, books, TV shows, games, apps and websites. In their movie reviews, they look at educational value, positive role models, positive messages, violence and scariness level, sexy stuff, language, consumerism and substances, providing information so parents can make their own informed decisions about what’s right for their child.

Kids in Mind also offers film reviews which rate, on a scale of 1 – 10, the level of sex/nudity, violence/gore, profanity and substance use in a movie. They also give detailed descriptions of each incident they counted, for parents to consider.

I also wrote a post on “When to Introduce Your Child To ______” which talks about things to consider when deciding whether your child is ready yet for favorite series like the MCU, Star Wars, and more.

Other Kid Activities:

If you’re looking for other fun ideas for the summer, find outdoor live theater options, check out my series on “Cheap Dates with Toddlers and Young Kids”,  or reviews of Eastside Parks or find hands-on STEM enrichment activities for kids age 3 – 7 on my other blog at www.InventorsOfTomorrow.com.

For school year activities, if you have kids age birth to 8, I am part of a group of co-op preschool programs that offer toddler classes, preschool, and STE(A)M Enrichment for ages 3 – 8. Learn more:

For other areas in the state, check out info about fabulous parent education classes at local community colleges that are great for kids AND include parent education for you – register now for fall, before they fill up!!