2019 outdoor movies in Northern Virginia offer the chance to relax and enjoy a fun flick under the stars. Free summer screenings begin in June and ramp up with additional venues over the summer. Wolf Trap also offers a selection of paid movie and music performances during the summer (details below).
Our guide to outdoor movies in Northern Virginia includes venues in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and surrounding towns. Movies are listed in order of weekday and then city.
Follow the links for line-ups and additional info on outdoor movies in Northern Virginia. Always double-check for cancellations during inclement weather.
Guide to Outdoor Movies in Northern Virginia
Movie Night, South Riding
Tuesdays: Jun 25 – Aug 20, Sunset
Watch a kid-friendly movie outside on the big screen in one of two locations in South Riding. Movies will start at sunset or as soon as it is dark enough. Bring a blanket or chairs for an evening of fun under the stars. Free.
Columbia Pike Movie Nights 2019, Arlington Mill, Arlington
Fridays: Jun 14 – Aug 23, 8:30 – 10:30
Family-friendly movies screened under the stars. Limited seating is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis and you are encouraged to bring your own chair. Free.
Rosslyn Cinema (Outdoor Movie Festival), Gateway Park, Arlington
Fridays, June 7 – July 12, 8:30 pm
Rosslyn’s Gateway Park hosts a great line-up of outdoor movies in Northern Virginia, plus a pre-movie Pub in the Park. Arrive at 5:00 for games at this kid-friendly dog-friendly event, then enjoy movies at dusk. Free.
Movies on the Green, Lovettsville
Saturdays: Jun 15 – Aug 17, 7:00
The Town of Lovettsville present the 11th annual Movies on the Green Series, Saturdays on the Town Green. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic to enjoy before the movie. Movies begin at dusk. Check the link for weather cancellations. Free.
Join the Summer of Love bus and VW enthusiasts for a family-friendly screening of The Love Bug and VW rally in Lovettsville on June 29th.
Marketplace at Madison Crescent, Gainesville
Saturdays in June
Bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy family-friendly outdoor movies. Movies begin at dusk. Free.
Cartoons and Coffee 2018, Mosaic District, Fairfax
Saturdays, June – Sep 9, 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Relax with a cup of coffee while the kids enjoy morning cartoons on the big screen on Saturdays, all summer long, at Mosaic District’s Strawberry Park.
Reels on the Ramp, Air and Space Museum, Chantilly
Saturdays, TBA
Enjoy a free movie under the stars on the Udvar-Hazy Center’s outdoor airplane ramp. Bring chairs, blankets, and insect repellant! Food is allowed, but alcohol and glass bottles or containers are prohibited. Doors open at 8:00 pm and the movie begins at dusk. Free.
Cinema del Ray, Mount Vernon Rec Center, Alexandria
Saturdays: Jun 15, Jul 20, Aug 17, Sep 21 Dusk
The fun begins at 7:00 and the family-friendly screenings start at dusk, every third Saturday of the summer on the fields of the Mount Vernon Rec Center. Free.
Columbia Pike Movie Nights 2019, Penrose Square, Arlington
Saturdays: Jun 15 – aug 24, 8:30 – 10:30
A full line-up of adult and kid-friendly movies screened under the stars. Limited seating is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis and you are encouraged to bring your own chair. Free.
Starlight Cinema, Trinity Centre Parking, Centreville
Saturdays Aug 3 – 24 6:00 PM
Adding a little drive-in fun to outdoor movies in Northern Virginia, Starlight Cinema returns with an August full of family movies. Watch from your car or under the stars in the outdoor seating area. Gates open at 6:00, so head over early for pre-movie entertainment and activities. Bring a blanket, chairs, and a picnic, or purchase food on site. Cancelled if rain. Free.
Outdoor Movie Nights at Liberty Lorton, Lorton
Saturdays: Jun 8 and 22, Aug 17 and 24, 5:30, Movie at dusk
Bring blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy a for family-friendly outdoor movie on the new Liberty Green. Food trucks will be on site offering fun treats for purchase. Free.
Movies Under the Stars, Stonebridge at Potomac Towers, Woodbridge
Saturdays, every 2 weeks Jun 1 – Sep 21, 7:00
Stonebridge offers a family-friendly movie on the Jumbrotron every other Saturday in summer. Bring your own chairs and blankets, and arrive early for shopping and a meal at one of the many shops and restaurants. Free.
Films in the Park, Mosaic District, Fairfax
Sundays, Jun 2 – Sep 1, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Boasting a slew of great restaurants, hip stores, and the Angelika Theater, Fairfax’s Mosaic District is always jumping. Stop by any Sunday night, June through August, to explore the stores, grab a bite, then watch a family-friendly outdoor movie on the giant screen over the main plaza. Free.
Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts, Vienna
Jul 5, 6 + 27, Aug 2 + 24, 8:30
Mixed in to the line-up of live summer entertainment, WolfTrap is offering several nights of classic movies on the big screen accompanied by live music. Movies begin at 8:30 with pre-performance options. Follow link for tickets and other details.
When the weather warms, outdoor movies in Northern Virginia are a fun way to spend an evening with friends and family. We love the chance to watch some stars under the stars, and these mostly free events are a nice night out. Please let us know if we missed any outdoor movie in Northern Virginia to add to the list.
2019 Outdoor Concerts are also underway, offering lots of free, family-friendly outdoor fun all summer long.
Follow Fun in Fairfax VA on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more fun things to do, places to visit, and special events in Northern Virginia and surrounding areas.
This article was published in 2018 and updated in 2019.
I am kind of looking forward to attending 2020 showings of movies. The one question I have is are the movies being shown with open captioning. Me and my partner Never get to see movies at theaters because the Captioning device is provided at movie theaters other than open captioning do not work satisfactorily.
I was not able to find any information about close-captioning on the websites listing outdoor movies. I’d suggest sending a Facebook message to any of the sites that you are considering so they can clarify what they provide. Hope you are able to enjoy some of the outdoor movies in 2020, Ron.
It would be great if this event were happening in downtown Leesburg. Sadly, it’s in Leesburg, Florida.
Food Truck and Flick Night, Leesburg
Saturdays: Jun 16, Jul 14, Aug 11, 5:00, Movie at dusk
Enjoy dinner from a line-up of Gourmet Food Trucks on Main Street in downtown Leesburg, with live music beginning at 6:00 pm. The trucks and movie fans gather every 2nd Saturday during summer months. At dusk, grab your blanket and chairs and watch a blockbuster movie on a 24-foot outdoor screen. Free.
Doh! Thank you so much for catching this error and letting me know. I deleted the event from the article. I appreciate the feedback!