This story has been updated to include additional information.
A free outdoor movie is one of the best things to do on long summer evenings. There’s plenty of showings around the Columbus area, most of them family friendly. While picnics are allowed at most events, some feature local food trucks and some even offer free popcorn.
Local governments sponsor some of the events, as well as civic associations and businesses.
This list is organized first by location, then by date. This list was compiled from online listings as of June 4.
Summer movies in the Columbus area
Here are the free outdoor movies in the Columbus area sorted by location. Columbus events are listed first, then suburban locations are listed in alphabetical order.
Columbus Commons: Family movie nights and the Sunset Movie Series
The large green in the middle of downtown offers plenty of paid and free events throughout the summer months, including movie screenings on some summer Fridays and spooky films every Thursday in October.
Movies start at 7 p.m.
Summer Movie Nights at Topiary Park
The park next to the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library is hosting three movies throughout the summer in a series sponsored by the Discovery Special Improvement District and Columbus Recreation and Parks.
Food trucks start at 7:30 p.m. and movies start at 8:30 p.m.
Screen on the Green in Goodale Park
The Short North Civic Association is hosting three screenings of films more geared toward adult audiences throughout the summer. Food trucks will be near the screenings in the softball field at the southwest corner of Goodale Park.
Movies start at sunset.
Friday Night Flicks at Easton Town Center
One of the largest shopping centers in Columbus is putting on four outdoor movie showings Fridays in June.
Movies start at 7 p.m., but there are also themed treats and other entertainment starting at 6 p.m. prior to the movies on the Town Square near Brio Tuscan Grille.
Free outdoor summer movies at East Market
East Market, a food hall and market on the Near East Side, hosts free outdoor movies many summer Thursday evenings starting at dusk.
The Main Event summer movie series in Bexley
Summer movie showings in Bexley also include ample pre-film festivities, including live music, food trucks, crafts and other family activities.
Events are on the Main Street Lawn at Capital University. The event starts at 6 p.m. and the movie starts after sundown.
Dublin Sumer Fun Series at Riverside Crossing Park: Cinema Saturdays
At this city-sponsored event, most movie nights feature double features with the first screening geared towards younger audiences and the second for teens and adults. All of the showings are held at Riverside Crossing Park in the bustling Bridge Park district, where the city is also hosting free fitness and live music throughout the summer.
Gahanna: Cinema Under the Stars
Gahanna Parks and Recreation is putting on three outdoor movie showings at Friendship Park this summer. Movies start when it gets dark, but other activities start at dusk.
Movies at McNamara in Genoa Township
Genoa Township, in southern Delaware County, sponsors two summer movie nights in June and July at McNamara Park in Galena. If either event gets rained out, the township will cancel by 3 p.m. day of and post a notice on the website and Facebook. The rain makeup date is Aug. 9.
Popcorn is free at these events, where the movie starts at dusk. Kona Ice will also be at the events selling sweet treats.
Grove City: Movies in the Park
Grove City is sponsoring nine movies throughout the summer.
Most showings are on Wednesday evenings at Town Center Park, starting at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Saturday Cinema in downtown Lancaster
Destination Downtown Lancaster is hosting three free outdoor movies this summer at the town square near the bandstand.
Pre-movie activities start at 7:30 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk.
New Albany’s Summer Movie Series
New Albany is hosting showings of three kid-friendly films throughout the summer at various parks throughout the city.
Pre-show festivities start at 6:30 p.m. and the movie starts at sunset.
Family Flick Nights from the New Albany Community Foundation
The New Albany Community Foundation is also hosting three summer movie nights featuring classic family-friendly movies at the Charleen and Charles Hinson Amphitheater.
Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the movies start at 7:30 p.m.
Pickerington: Friday Night Flick
The City of Pickerington is hosting a showing of “Moana 2” at the Sycamore Creek Park Amphitheater June 27. The movie will start at dusk.
The city has done two other movies in preview years, but additional showings have not been announced as of June 4.
Movie in the Park in Prairie Township
Prairie Township is hosting an outdoor movie night at the Galloway Sports Complex June 13 for a showing of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” Concessions will be available.
Gates open at 8 p.m. and the movie begins at sunset.
Reynoldsburg First Friday
The city’s Parks and Recreation department is sponsoring three “First Friday” summer movie events in June, August and September at Huber Park.
The events include food trucks and live music. The festivities start at 5:30 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk.
The Parks and Recreation Department, as well as Eastside Brewery, are putting on an outdoor movie event at the brewery on Friday, June 20. This free showing of “Dumb and Dumber,” starting at sunset, is restricted to adults 21 and older.
Sunbury: Movies on the Square
The Big Walnut Civic Association is hosting three summer movies at Sunbury Square throughout the summer.
Pre-show festivities, including kid-friendly activities, start at 6 p.m. and the movies start at dusk.
Upper Arlington: Movies in the Parks
The city is hosting a variety of free movie nights throughout the summer at three different locations in Upper Arlington. Movies cancelled because of inclement weather won’t be rescheduled, according to the city’s event page, but residents can call the weather hotline at 614-583-5345.
All of the movies start at 7 p.m.
Summer Movie Series from Worthington Libraries
Worthington Libraries in partnership with the Worthington Parks and Recreation Department is putting on three outdoor showings in the backyard of Northwest Library. The showings could be rescheduled because of rain, according to the event website.
Outdoor activities and games start at 8:30 p.m., then the movie starts when it’s dark.
When are all of the free outdoor summer movies around Columbus?
If you’re looking to find a movie for a specific day, instead of location, here are all the free outdoor movies listed by date. Times indicate the time of the start of the movie shown in event information, but some events also include pre-film festivities.
June 2025 free outdoor summer movies
Friday, June 6:
Tuesday, June 10: “The Incredibles” at the Hinson Amphitheater in New Albany (7:30 p.m.)
Thursday, June 12: “Mean Girls” at the East Market (dusk)
Friday, June 13:
Saturday, June 14:
Wednesday, June 18: “Paddington in Peru” at Town Center Park in Grove City (8 p.m.)
Friday, June 20:
Wednesday, June 25: “A Bug’s Life” at Town Center Park in Grove City (8 p.m.)
Thursday, June 26: “50 First Dates” at the East Market (dusk)
Friday, June 27:
Saturday, June 28: “Mufasa: The Lion King” (6 p.m.) and “M3GAN” (8:15 p.m.) at Dublin’s Riverside Crossing Park
July 2025 free outdoor summer movies
Wednesday, July 2: “Wonder Woman” at Town Center Park in Grove City (8 p.m.)
Thursday, July 10: “Are We There Yet?” at the East Market (dusk)
Friday, July 11:
Saturday, July 12:
Tuesday, July 15: “The Little Mermaid” (1989) at the Hinson Amphitheater in New Albany (7:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, July 16: “The Secret Life of Pets” at Town Center Park in Grove City (8 p.m.)
Friday, July 18:
Wednesday, July 23: “Elf” at Town Center Park in Grove City (8 p.m.)
Thursday, July 24: “Mufasa: The Lion King” at the East Market (dusk)
Friday, July 25: “Clueless” at Topiary Park (8:30 p.m.)
Saturday, July 26: “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (6 p.m.) and “Jurassic World” (8 p.m.) at Dublin’s Riverside Crossing Park
Wednesday, July 30: “The Lorax” at Town Center Park in Grove City (8 p.m.)
Thursday, July 31: “Wicked” at the East Market (dusk)
August 2025 free outdoor summer movies
Friday, Aug. 1:
Friday, Aug. 8: “Wicked” at Thompson Park in Upper Arlington
Saturday, Aug. 9:
Sunday, Aug. 10: “Moana 2” at the Big Splash in Grove City ($2 pool admission)
Tuesday, Aug. 12: “Shrek” at the Hinson Amphitheater in New Albany (7:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, Aug. 13: “Wicked” at Town Center Park in Grove City (6:30 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 15:
Saturday, Aug. 16: “The Wild Robot” at Bevelhymer Park in New Albany (sunset)
Sunday, Aug. 17: “Cars” at Beulah Park in Grove City (8 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 22: “The Goonies” at Topiary Park (8:30 p.m.)
September and October 2025 free outdoor summer movies
Friday, Sept. 5:
Friday, Sept. 12:
Friday, Sept. 26: “Ghostbusters” at Topiary Park (8:30 p.m.)
Thursday, Oct. 2: “Goosebumps” at the Columbus Commons (7 p.m.)
Thursday, Oct. 9: “Hocus Pocus” at the Columbus Commons (7 p.m.)
Thursday, Oct. 16: “The Goonies” at the Columbus Commons (7 p.m.)
Thursday, Oct. 23: “Wicked” at the Columbus Commons (7 p.m.)
Thursday, Oct. 30: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at the Columbus Commons (7 p.m.)
Anna Lynn Winfrey covers the western suburbs for the Columbus Dispatch. She can be reached at awinfrey@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dozens of free outdoor movies planned in central Ohio this summer in Columbus and beyond
Reporting by Anna Lynn Winfrey, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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