Where you can find free outdoor movies in the Milwaukee area this summer (and where you can still find drive-in movies)
Note: You can find the updated 2022 edition of this story here.
Another sign people are moving past the pandemic? Free outdoor movies are back, all over the Milwaukee area.
Some communities have special COVID-19 safety protocols in place, and others are pushing their outdoor movies into the fall — sometimes a risky proposition weather-wise, but closer to the time when more health officials believe conditions will be better.
A dozen communities are taking the outdoor movie plunge this summer, more than did in pandemic 2020.
Here's a guide to the free outdoor movie events in the Milwaukee area this summer and fall. COVID safety measures are noted when available. Movies are at dusk unless noted otherwise.
Remember: In 2021, nothing is permanent. Check community websites for updates.
Bayside
The village is incorporating its annual Movie in the Park into its "reimagined" fall event Sept. 25, combining a picnic, the Bayside Five and Wine (run/walk) and beer garden. Details, including the movie selection, are still in the works.
Info: baysidewi.gov
Elm Grove
The village’s Friday Flicks series returns to Elm Grove Village Park, 13600 Juneau Blvd. Movies start at 8:30 p.m. The movies are showing at the Pavilion, except for the July 23 “dive-in” movie at the park’s pool.
June 11: “The Lion King”
June 25: “Trolls World Tour”
July 9: “The Croods: A New Age”
July 23: “Finding Nemo” (“dive-in” movie)
July 31: “Onward” (actually, a Saturday)
Aug. 13: “Raya and the Last Dragon”
Info: elmgrovewi.org
Glendale/Maslowski Park
Glendale’s inaugural Movies in the Glen camps out on a handful of Saturday nights in Richard E. Maslowski Park, 2200 W. Bender Road.
June 19: “Mamma Mia!” (8 p.m.)
July 17: “Love & Basketball” (8 p.m.)
Aug. 21: “Field of Dreams” (6 p.m.), “The Blind Side” (8:30 p.m.)
Sept. 18: “My Spy” (8 p.m.)
Info: glendale-wi.org
Glendale/Bayshore
Bayshore, the retail/residential complex undergoing a reinvention at 5800 N. Bayshore Drive in Glendale, has what may be Milwaukee's longest lineup of free outdoor movies in its Wednesday night Bayshore Family Flicks series. The movies start at 5 p.m. on the Marquee, the big screen facing the open space called The Yard at the center of Bayshore.
June 16: "The Croods: A New Age"
June 23: "Moana"
June 30: "Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite"
July 7: "Kung Fu Panda 2"
July 14: "Tom & Jerry"
July 21: "Trolls World Tour"
July 28: "Onward"
Aug. 4: "Cars"
Aug. 11: "Incredibles 2"
Aug. 18: "Raya and the Last Dragon"
Aug. 25: "The Angry Birds Movie 2"
Sept. 15: "Shrek the Third"
Sept. 22: "Sonic the Hedgehog"
Sept. 29: "Monsters, Inc."
Oct. 6: "Aladdin" (2019)
Info: thebayshorelife.com/events
Greendale
The village's movie series, organized by Gift of Wings, screens in Greendale Gazebo Park, 5710 Broad St. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place, subject to community restrictions.
June 12: “Sonic the Hedgehog”
July 16: “The Croods: A New Age”
Sept. 18: “Raya and the Last Dragon”
Greenfield
The city’s Movies in the Park program returns on Saturday nights at The Amp in Konkel Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave.
May 30: “Frozen 2” (a Sunday)
June 26: “Trolls World Tour”
July 10: “Aladdin” (2019)
Aug. 21: “Toy Story 4”
Sept. 18: “Soul”
Info: ci.greenfield.wi.us
Hartland
Hartland’s Recreation Department and Public Library join forces for this year’s movie series, showing in Nixon Park, 175 E. Park Ave., Hartland.
Aug. 20: “Sing” (8 p.m.)
Aug. 27: “Trolls” (8 p.m.)
Sept. 10: “Field of Dreams” (7 p.m.)
Sept. 24: “A League of Their Own” (7 p.m.)
Oct. 1: “Playing With Fire” (7 p.m.)
Oct. 16: “Goosebumps” (7 p.m.)
Info: villageofhartland.com
Milwaukee
County Supervisor Sequanna Taylor and the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services are hosting a series of events in county parks this summer, including three Movie Nights. The movies start at 6:15 p.m. on three different Fridays.
July 9: "Harriet," Harriet Tubman Park, 4750 N. 48th St.
July 23: "Hidden Figures," Brown Deer Park, 7835 N. Green Bay Ave.
Aug. 6: "Black Panther," McGovern Park, 5400 N. 51st Blvd.
Info: District 2 Summer Park Events Facebook page
Milwaukee/Johnsons Park
The Friends of Johnsons Park are hosting a Movie in the Park night at 7 p.m. in the Milwaukee County Park at 1919 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
July 16: "Moana"
Info: Friends of Johnsons Park Facebook page
Milwaukee/Marcus Center
The return of Rainbow Summer to the Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St., brings with it a revival of free movies at the outdoor Peck Pavilion. The movies are at 7 p.m.
July 15: "Cinderella" (1997)
July 29: "Center Stage"
Aug. 12: "Footloose" (1984)
Info: marcuscenter.org
Milwaukee/Veterans Park
Organized by Gift of Wings, the Summer Night Movies series, in the park on Lake Michigan, at 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, will have COVID-19 safety protocols in place, in line with government restrictions.
May 22: “Toy Story 4”
June 19: “Wonder Woman 1984”
July 10: "Jumanji: The Next Level”
Aug. 21: “Tom & Jerry”
Aug. 28: “Raya and the Last Dragon”
Sept. 5: “Godzilla vs. Kong”
New Berlin
The city’s Movies in the Park series returns to Malone Park, 16400 W. Al Stigler Parkway. Each of the movie nights has a theme.
June 19: “Aladdin” (2019), showing as a drive-in (parking lot opens at 7 p.m.)
July 23: “Trolls World Tour,” featuring a beer garden with Component Brewing
Aug. 7: “Raya and the Last Dragon,” with a family campout
Info: newberlin.org
Oconomowoc/Moonlit Movies
The Moonlit Movies series takes place in Fowler Park and in downtown Oconomowoc, June 22, July 8 and Aug. 12; the movies and locations will be posted one week before the date on the series website and Facebook page.
Info: moonlitmovies.org
Port Washington
There’s no Fish Day in Port this summer, but Friday Night Flicks are still on the schedule for Veteran’s Memorial Park Bandshell, 410 N. Lake St.
June 25: “The Croods: A New Age”
July 23: “Tom & Jerry”
Aug. 13: “Raya and the Last Dragon”
Info: portwashington.recdesk.com
Sussex
The village’s Outdoor Movie Night takes place in the Civic Center Plaza, N64-W23760 Main St.
Aug. 26: “Up”
Info: villagesussex.org
Waukesha
The city of Waukesha’s Monday Nights at the Movies returns to Cutler Park. Pre-movie activities start at 6 p.m.; the movies start at 7:15 p.m. Among the safety considerations are social distancing and masks required when leaving your seating spot.
June 21: “Aladdin” (2019)
July 19: “Ghostbusters” (1984)
Aug. 16: “The Land Before Time”
Aug. 19: “Saturday Night Fever” — “Movie Night for Grownups,” with disco music at 5:30 p.m., a 1970s costume contest at 7:30 p.m. (ages 21 and older), and the movie at 8 p.m.
Info: waukesha-wi.gov
Drive-ins are back (sort of)
Last summer, the pandemic sparked a revival of the drive-in movie — sort of.
The combination of being outdoors and requisite social distancing led to a flurry of pop-up drive-ins as well as one popular newcomer: the Milky Way Drive-In in Franklin.
There are fewer drive-ins in place to start 2021's summer, but that could change. Here's what's on tap so far.
Milwaukee Recreation Department: Milwaukee Public Schools’ Rec Department’s first drive-in movie is a daylong affair at the MPS Central Services Building, 5225 W. Vliet St. Movie day is May 15 (rain date May 22). Admission is $20 per vehicle per movie. The lineup: “Despicable Me 3,” starting at 2 p.m.; “The Secret Life of Pets 2,” 4 p.m.; and “Big Hero 6,” 6 p.m. Info: milwaukeerecreation.net.
Milky Way Drive-In: The drive-in launched outside Franklin Field, 7035 S. Ballpark Drive, Franklin, is back for a second season, with screenings on nights that the stadium's main tenant, the Milwaukee Milkmen baseball team, is on the road. Year No. 2 for the Milky Way starts with "Bon Jovi," a new concert movie, at 9:45 p.m. May 22. Tickets for the concert movie are $89 for cars (up to six people) at encorenights.com. Tickets are regularly $35 per car, and COVID-19 rules are in place. For the Milky Way's continually updating schedule, go to milkywaydrivein.com/events.
Highway 18 Drive-In: The drive-in at W6423 Highway 18 in Jefferson survived the pandemic and got an early start on 2021, reopening May 7 with a mix of recent releases and drive-in-friendly classics. Screenings are Fridays through Sundays. Tickets are $10; $8 for active-duty military and seniors 65 to 99; $6 for children ages 5-11; free for kids 4 and younger and seniors 100 and older, The box office opens at 7:30 p.m.; the movies start at dusk. For details, go to highway18.com.
Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Where to find free outdoor movies in Milwaukee area in summer 2021
