2024 Outdoor Movies in Wake County
BY Elizabeth Brignac
Raleigh, Western Wake, and other areas in Wake County offer many outdoor venues where you can enjoy a picnic dinner, spread a blanket and watch a movie under a canopy of stars. Many locations offer food trucks and pre-show activities to enhance your experience.
Here are summertime outdoor movie venues and what they are showing in 2024 through October in Raleigh, Wake Forest, Western Wake, and Eastern and Southeastern Wake. Events listed below are free unless otherwise noted. Also, unless the listing mentions that the venue provides seating, you should bring blankets, camp chairs or lawn chairs
Raleigh and Wake Forest
Outdoor Films at the North Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
Films begin at 8:30 except where otherwise noted. You can pre-order a picnic lunch or buy snacks and drinks onsite.
- JUNE 15, 5:00 p.m.11:00 PM: Music and movie combo– Juneteenth Joy: A Celebration of Black Women, Resilience, and Sisterhood—The Joy of House Music and screening of The Color Purple (2023)
- July 12: Moana
- July 13: Barbie
- July 20: Kiki’s Delivery Service
- July 27, 5:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. Music and movie combo—NCMA Groove: The Joy of ’80s Pop and a 40th-anniversary screening of Purple Rain
- August 3: Mad Max: Fury Road
- August 9: Killing Romance
August 10: Dreamgirls - September 7: Wonka
- September 13: Kung Fu Hustle
- September 14, 7:30: Double feature – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
- September 27, 7:15: Double feature singalong – Mamma Mia! (2008) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
- October 4, 7:30: Batman (1989) in concert with live symphony orchestra.
- October 5: Spirited Away
- October 15, 7:30 Double Feature – Sister Act (1992) and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
Movie on the Lawn at Dorothea Dix Park
1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh
This year’s movie on the lawn for kids will include a touch-a-truck event and food trucks.
- August 3: Touch-a-truck events starts at 7, and the movie Cars starts at 8:45
Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park
Carroll Joyner Park
701 Harris Road, Wake Forest
Pre-film family activities start at 7:30 p.m. Films start at 8:30 p.m. You can bring your own food, and food vendors are often onsite selling food and drink, though they are not guaranteed to be there. Check ahead of time to see what food will be available for purchase. No alcohol, please!
- May 25 – Beauty & The Beast (1991 animated version)
- June 15 – Minions: The Rise of Gru
- July 20 – Kung Fu Panda 4
- August 3 – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Western Wake
Rhythm and Reels (formerly called Peak City Circuit)
Apex Nature Park Amphitheater
2600 Evans Road, Apex
Watch outdoor movies on a large screen on select Saturdays. (On other weekends, look for outdoor concerts in the same space!) Movies begin at dusk. No pets or alcohol, please.
- June 29: Barbie
- July 20: The Parent Trap
- August 17: Kung Fu Panda 4
This summer and fall, enjoy free film screenings curated by The Cary Theater from the Great Lawn.. Come early for themed, pre-screening activities. Concessions available for purchase. Movies begin at dusk.
- June 14: Strange World
- July 3: National Treasure
- July 19: Jurassic Park
- August 9: The Marvels
Little Fentonian Flicks
Fenton Square
21 Fenton Main Street, Cary
During the summers, every Wednesday morning at 10a.m, Paragon Theaters will show free family-friendly movies in Fenton Square in Cary.
- June 19: Paddington 2
- June 26: Despicable Me 3
- July 3: Sonic The Hedgehog 2
- July 10: Migration
- July 17: Trolls Band Together
- July 24: The Grinch
- July 31: Secret Life of Pets 2
- August 8: Spider-Man: Across The Spider Verse
- August 14: Paw Patrol
- August 21: Nanny McPhee
- August 28: Judy Moody and The Not So Bummer Summer
Eastern and Southeastern Wake
First Friday Market & Movie Night
Haven Farm
8521 Buffaloe Road, Knightdale
This is a pop-up Carolinas event. It includes food trucks, local musicians, activities and games for families, and a local artisans’ market. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. The movies start at dusk.
- June 7: X-Men (2000)
- July 5: Independence Day
- August 2: Finding Nemo
- September 6: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- October 4: Nightmare Before Christmas
Friday Family Flicks
Garner Recreation Center
215 W Main Street, Garner
Concessions available onsite for purchase. In case of rain, the event will be held at the same time on the following day.
- June 14: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Pre-film activities start at 7:45. The movie starts at 8:45.
- August 9: Wonka. Pre-film activities start at 7:30. The movie starts at 8:30.
Movies at the Middle
4700 Burlington Mills Road, Rolesville
The Town of Rolesville hosts outdoor movie showings at the Rolesville Middle School football field on select nights through October 18. Showtime is sunset (specific times listed next to the movies). Concessions available for purchase (cash only).
August 16: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Movie starts at 8:30.
September 20: Barbie. Movie starts at 8:00.
October 18: Migration. Movie starts at 7:15.
