Columbus Outdoor and Drive-In Movie Experiences for Summer 2022

Outdoor movies in Columbus are the one of the best parts of summer! Check out one of these outdoor or drive-in movie options for your family this summer!

There are many opportunities for outdoor movies in Columbus! Make sure to check each link in case tickets are needed in advance! And don’t forget South Drive-In Theatre which is a permanent drive-in movie theater on the south side of Columbus!

Check back soon! This post is being continually being updated for 2022!

1. Movies at Moonlight at Easton Town Center

Free outdoor movies will take place on Tuesday evenings in June in the Town Square at dusk. 2022 movies include:

June 7: Encanto
June 14: Inside Out
June 21: Trolls World Tour
June 28: Wizard of Oz

Related: 5 Tasty Kid-Friendly Restaurants at Easton Town Center

2. Nightlight 614

Nightlight 614 is a 21+ outdoor movie series featuring local food trucks, craft beer and wine and a DJ. The movies take place at Genoa park. Tickets available in advance.

3. Free Movie Nights at Columbus Commons

Watch an outdoor movie on the large screen at Columbus Commons! Movies begin at 8:15 PM. 2022 movie line up is:

May 28 – Encanto
June 11 – Frozen 2
June 24 – The Lion King
July 22 – Sing 2

4. Cinema Under the Stars in Friendship Park

Outdoor activities, crafts an more will take place before a showing of an outdoor movie in Friendship Park in Gahanna! Activities begin at 7:00 PM.

2022 movie line up:

July 15 – Encanto
August 19 – Luca
September 23 – Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

5. Movies Under the Stars at Greenlawn Abbey

Select Fridays beginning June 3 through September 30, 2022 you can watch movies on the lawn at Greenlaw Abbey. Food truck and drinks will be available for purchase and the Abbey will be open for tours. $5 donation at the door.

2022 Movie Line Up:

June 3 – Beetlejuice
June 17 – Tremors
July 15 – Labyrinth
July 29 – Goonies
August 12 – Edward Scissorhands
August 26 – The Lost Boys
September 9 – Howard the Duck

6. Drive-In Summer Movies at CrossRoads Baptist Church

Movies will begin 30 minutes after sunset, therefore the start times will vary. Rain dates will be for one week after scheduled date. Admission and popcorn are free!

Upcoming Movie Line up for 2022:

June 10 – Babe
June 24 – Homeward Bound
July 15 – Sarah’s Choice
July 29 – Ultimate Gift
August 12 – Breakthrough
August 26 – Courageous
September 9 – Home Run
September 23 – Lion, Witch & Wardrobe

7. Movie Nights at the Metro Parks

There will be 7 outdoor movies at the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks this summer! Movies begin at dark and refreshments will be provided!

2022 dates and locations are as follows:

Friday, June 3: Croods: A New Age at Glacier Ridge Metro Park
Friday, July 15: How to Train Your Dragon at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
Friday, August 19: Encanto at Sharon Woods Metro Park
Saturday, August 27: Spider Man: No Way Home at Blendon Woods Metro Park
Friday, September 9: Luca at Blacklick Woods Golf Course
Saturday, September 17: Top Gun at Highbanks Metro Park
Friday, October 21: Ghostbusters at Sharon Woods Metro Park

8. The Main Event in Bexley

Three outdoor movies will be shown on Main Street Lawn at Sunset this summer!

2022 Movie Line Up:

June 3 – Luca
July 29 – Mitchells vs. the Machines
September 30 – Encanto

9. Family Movie Series at East Market

Outdoor movies will take place at 8:00 PM in the Switch Yard. It’s recommended that you bring a chair! The 2022 Movie Line up is:

June 9: Sing 2
June 23: Bad Guys
July 7: Space Jam: A New Legacy
July 21: Clifford the Big Red Dog
August 4: The Mitchells vs. The Machines
August 18: The Croods: A New Age

10. Movies in the Parks in Upper Arlington

2022 Movie Line up is as follows. Movies are at rotating locations and are sometimes part of larger events.

Sing 2 | Friday, June 10 Drive-in Style Movie
Start: 7:30 pm
Location: Mountview Baptist Church, 2140 Fishinger Rd

Free Willy | Friday, June 24 Movie Night
Start: 7:30 pm
Location: Thompson Park South Shelter, 2020 McCoy Rd

Raya and the Last Dragon | Friday, July 8 Family Campout
Start: 7:30 pm
Location: Sunny 95 Park, 4395 Carriage Hill Ln

Space Jam A New Legacy | Thursday, July 21 Summer Celebration
Start: 9 pm
Location: Thompson Park South Shelter, 2020 McCoy Rd

The Greatest Showman | Friday, August 12 Movie Night
Start: 7:30 pm
Location: Thompson Park South Shelter, 2020 McCoy Rd

11. Movies in the Park in Canal Winchester

Two free movies are scheduled in Hanners Park for 2022. Free snacks and activities will be availalbe at 8:00 PM and the movie will start at approximately 9:00 PM. Watch from your vehicle or bring a chair or blanket to watch from the lawn.

2022 Movie Dates:

July 8: The Little Rascals (1994)
August 12: TBD

12. Movies at McNamara

These outdoor movies take place in McNamara Park in Genoa Township. Bring a chair or blanket. A rain date is saved in case either movie is cancelled!

2020 movie line up is as follows:

June 11 : Sing 2
July 9 : Luca
August 13 (rain date)

13. Outdoor Movie Series at Galloway Sports Complex

This outdoor movie in Galloway is free to attend. Concessions are available to purchase. Gates open at 7:30 PM and the movies begin at sunset. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to a local food pantry.

Upcoming movie titles have not been announced yet. Check their Facebook page for updates! 2022 movie dates are:

Friday, June 10 – Encanto
Friday, July 15
Thursday, August 4

14. Discovery District Outdoor Summer Movie Series at Columbus Museum of Art

These outdoor movies are free and free parking is available in the CMA parking lot. Movies will be shown in the sculpture garden and will begin at dusk (approximately 9:00 PM).

2022 Movie Line up:

Friday, June 17: The Incredibles
Friday, July 15: The Karate Kid
Friday, August 5: Black Panther

15. Movies at the Dam

These outdoor movies will be shown in the Below Dam Recreation Area! Bring a chair or blanket!
This year we will be showing 4 movies over the course of the summer. Movies start at 9:30 PM. Concessions will be available.

2022 movie line up:

June 18: Dolittle
July 16: Yogi Bear
August 20: Jungle Cruise
September 17: Open Season

16. South Drive In Theatre

South Drive In is a permanent drive-in movie theatre. The theater is open weekends only. Online ticketing is available, however cards and cash will be accepted at the gate. Kids 4 and under are free every night and kids ages 5-11 are only $2. A concession stand and restrooms will also be available. There are two screens and 4 movies are shown each evening.

17. Skyview Drive In

Skyview Drive-In is a permanent drive-in movie theater in Lancaster! Tickets are available online. Kids 3 and under are free and ages 4-11 are $5 each. 12 and up are $0/each. There is a concession stand with a full menu available or you will need to purchase a food permit at the box office in order to bring in outside food.

Read: 13 Fun Things to do in Lancaster Ohio with Kids

–>> Need more to do this summer? Sign up for a Summer Reading Program or try out one of these 25 Fun Outdoor Activities in Columbus for the Whole Family! <<– Or take a look at this list of over 100 fun things to do in Columbus!

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