Outdoor Movie Theaters
Drive-Ins and Outdoor movies are one of my family’s favorite activities to do together! Our first drive-in experience was when my oldest daughter was 2 and my youngest was 6 months old. We saw Frozen, my husband and I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into! That was just the 1st of many outdoor movie experiences for us. So, if you haven’t done it yet, please do, you won’t regret it, especially now. Social distancing, and enjoying movies under the stars is a win win! We are still in Florida, so please pack bug spray along with your favorite movie watching snacks!
Orlando Outdoor Movies
Grab a picnic and a blanket and enjoy Outdoor movies around Orlando.
Avalon Park
Avalon Park’s Movies Under the Stars hosts a movie on the 4th Friday of each month September – December. Bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy free popcorn and shop local vendors.
Location: 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd Orlando, FL 32828 United States
Cranes Roost
Cranes Roost Sunset Cinema is a free family friendly event at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs. Bring a blanket and snacks or visit the concession stands for movie watching goodies. Registration is required, group size and guest space is limited. Check their website for movie start times.
Location: 274 Cranes Roost Blvd, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Leu Gardens
Enjoy a movie night on the 1st Friday of every month at 7:30pm inside Harry P. Leu Gardens . Enjoy a socially distanced outdoor movie night. Bring your own blanket, snacks, and drinks and enjoy the peaceful outdoor scene that the beautiful Leu Gardens has to offer. Registration is required. No wait list available.
Location: 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, FL 32803
Popcorn Flicks in Winter Park
Winter Park and Enzian theaters teamed up to bring Popcorn Flicks to different parks in the beautiful town of Winter Park. Enjoy this free family friendly event on the 2nd Thursday of every month. Movies typically start at 7pm or 8pm, depending on sunset times. Check out their website for movies and locations. Please RSVP to the individual links per event.
Location: Parks in Winter Park
Outdoor Movie Theaters and Drive-Ins
These outdoor movie theaters and drive-ins are a great place to see a movie from the comfort of your car. Please support the drive-ins by purchasing from their snack bar, that’s how they keep their establishments alive!
The Gathering Place
Visit The Gathering Place’s Drive-In movies every weekend from Friday to Sunday. They show blockbuster movies each day, including a family matinee on Saturdays and Sundays. Movies that they have shown in the past include Moana, The Avengers, Spiderman, Chronicles of Narnia and Trolls. There is a concession area to buy snacks for the movie.
Cost: Free tickets are available, but limited. $25 per car gets you preferred parking. $50 per car includes preferred parking plus 2 bags of popcorn and 2 drinks.
Joy-Lan Drive-In Dade City
Check out Joy-lan Drive-In, one of the few drive-ins left in Florida! Joy-lan is a first run movie theater, but is currently running fan favorites due to the pandemic. Joy-lan has been around for 50 years and still remains a favorite of locals and out of towners.
Distance: It will take about 1 hr and 20 minutes to get to Dade City from Orlando.
Location: 16414 US-301, Dade City, FL 33523
Cost: $6 ages 10+/$2 ages 3-9
Ocala Drive-In
The movie watching experience at Ocala Drive-In is unlike any other. Stick to your parking spot and enjoy the movie from your car or lawn chairs. No outside food or drink is allowed, but don’t worry! Just place your concession order online once you arrive, tell them your parking spot number, and they’ll bring your food to you! No need to leave your spot.
Distance: It will take about 1 hr and 20 minutes to get to Ocala from Orlando.
Location: 4850 S Pine Ave, Ocala, FL 34480
Cost: $6 adults/$3 kids/5 and under Free
Silver Moon Drive-In Lakeland
Enjoy a fun family night out at Silver Moon Drive-In. As with all Drive-in theaters Silver Moon will be playing first run movies once major studios begin releasing them again. Until then, go out and enjoy fan favorites. Make a stop by their snack bar for popcorn, sodas, pizzas, or nachos.
Distance: It will take about 1 hr to get to Lakeland from Orlando.
Location: 4100 New Tampa Hwy, Lakeland, FL 33815
Cost: Cost: $6 ages 10+/$2 ages 3-9
Right now outdoor movies and drive-ins are a great way to still go to the movies, so check out one or all of them!
by Abby O’Connor