Screens under the stars
Guide to free outdoor movies this summer
Every summer, the skies over the Milwaukee area are lit up — not just with fireworks, but movies. The list of communities and groups showing free outdoor movies in the Milwaukee area gets longer every year. Although this summer, one of the highest-profile movie series is going dark. Point Fish Fry and a Flick, which has lighted up the Friday night summer sky near Discovery World since 2009, isn’t coming back for 2017, according to Sara Peronto, public relations director for PTG Live Events, which organized the movie series. “We had a great time doing it for the seven seasons,” Peronto said. “We don’t have any definite plans” to bring it back. While Fish Fry and a Flick is off the books, other outdoor movie programs have expanded for this summer, and other parks and communities are starting up their own. Some series are even
adding double features to the mix.
Here’s what’s showing under the stars for free in the Milwaukee area this summer, according to community officials and websites. Unless otherwise noted, all movies are rated G or PG.
Veterans Park
The lakefront park at 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive has one of the longestrunning outdoor movie series in town. This year’s is sponsored by Guardian Credit Union and Gift of Wings.
June 10: “The Jungle Book” (2016 version) June 24: “Sing” July 7: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (PG-13) Aug. 19: “The Lego Batman Movie” Aug. 26: “La La Land” (PG-13) Sept. 3: “Groundhog Day” / “Top Gun”
Info: countyparks.com
Peck Flicks at Marcus Center
All movies start at 7:15 p.m. at the Peck Pavilion, the amphitheater outside the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. This year, the series includes a couple of fun double-features. Aug. 4: “Raiders of the Lost Ark” Aug. 10: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” / “The Breakfast Club” Aug. 18: “Space Jam” Aug. 25: “Tangled” / “The Princess Bride”
Info: marcuscenter.org
Waukesha
The city’s Monday Night at the Movies series returns to the Les Paul Performance Center in Cutler Park, 321 Wisconsin Ave. Movies start at 8 p.m. June 12: “The Secret Life of Pets” June 19: “Groundhog Day” June 26: “Mary Poppins” July 10: “Finding Dory” July 17: “The Lego Batman Movie” July 24: “A Bug’s Life” (includes a pre-show performance at 6 p.m. by Main Street Song & Dance Troupe) July 31: “Superman” Aug. 7: “Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone” Aug. 14: “Moana” Aug. 21: “Zootopia” Info: waukesha-wi.gov
Humboldt Park
The Bay View Neighborhood Association’s Films on the Hill series shows at dusk in Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave. July 22: “La La Land” (PG-13) Aug. 5: “The Lego Batman Movie” Info:
Hart Park
The Friends of Hart Park’s Family Film Night starts at dusk at the performance stage at the park, 7300 W. Chestnut St., Wauwatosa. Aug. 22: “Moana” Info: ihartpark.org
Greenfield
Greenfield’s Parks and Recreation Department is showing its Free Family Movies series at the new amphitheater in Konkol Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave. Movies start at dusk.
May 27: “The Good Dinosaur” (during Jansen Fest)
May 28: “The Secret Life of Pets” (during Jansen Fest) June 24: “Storks” July 22: “Finding Dory” Aug. 19: “Sing” Sept. 16: “Beauty and the Beast” Info: ci.greenfield.wi.us
Elm Grove
The village’s Movies in the Park is held in Village Park, 13600 Juneau Road. Movies begin at dusk. June 20: “The Lego Batman Movie” July 11: “Moana” July 25: “Back to the Future” Aug. 5: “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (PG-13)
Info: elmgrovewi.org
New Berlin
The city’s Movies in the Park program returns to Malone Park, 16400 W. Al Stigler Parkway. Also returning: a “drive-in movie,” allowing moviegoers to view from their cars in the park’s south parking lot.
June 9: “The Secret Life of Pets” (Drive-In Movie) July 14: “Moana” Aug. 18: “The Angry Birds Movie” Info: newberlin.org
Hartland/Delafield
The Village of Hartland and City of Delafield tag-team again on their Family Movie Series.
Aug. 3: 9 p.m., “Finding Dory,” Nixon Park, 175 E. Park Ave., Hartland
Aug. 17: 8 p.m., “The Secret Life of Pets,” Nixon Park
Aug. 24: 7:45 p.m., “Zootopia,” Cushing Park, 600 N. Cushing Park Road, Delafield
Info: villageofhartland.com
Greendale
The village’s Parks and Recreation Department is showing movies this summer in Gazebo Park, 5701 Broad St. June 9: 9 p.m., “The Jungle Book” July 8: 9 p.m., “The Angry Birds Movie”
Sept. 16: 8 p.m., “The Lego Batman Movie”
Info: greendale.org
Port Washington
The city’s Friday Night Flicks return with activities starting at 7 p.m. and movies starting at dusk.
July 7: “Despicable Me,” Veteran’s Memorial Park
Aug. 25: “The Secret Life of Pets,” Meadows Park, 1422 W. Portview Drive
Sept. 15: “Moana,” Veteran’s Memorial Park
Info: cityofportwashington.com
South Milwaukee
South Milwaukee’s Movies at the Beach series is held in Ferch’s Beachside Grille in Grant Park, 100 E. Hawthorne Ave., and sponsored by Guardian Credit Union. June 14: “Sing” July 12: “Moana” Aug. 23: “Zootopia” Info: ferchs.com/grant
Sussex
This year’s village Movie Night is at the Sussex Civic Center, N64-W23760 Main St., with music and games at 7 p.m. and the movie at 8. Aug. 18: “The Secret Life of Pets” Info: villagesussex.org
West Allis
The Friends of La Follette Park plan to host a movie night at dusk on June 9 at the park, 9418 W. Washington St. West Allis. The movie’s title hadn’t been announced at press time.
Info: friendsoflafollettepark.com
Bayside
Bayside’s Movie Night follows the Bayside 5K Run/Walk, being held Sept. 8. The run/walk ends where the movie will be shown at dusk, in Ellsworth Park on Ellsworth Lane east of Rexleigh Drive. The title hadn’t been chosen at press time.
Info: bayside-wi.gov
Manitoba Park
The Jackson Park Community Association is hosting Movie in the Park in Manitoba Park, 2941 S. 49th St., at 8 p.m. on June 17 and Aug. 19. The titles are being chosen by polling residents on Facebook and NextDoor.
Info: jacksonpark.us
Paul’s Alley Cinema
Since 2001, Paul Dorobialski has been showing classics, old and not-so-old, on a screen in an alley in Walker’s Point, at 170 S. 2nd St. The movies start around 8:30 p.m. on Fridays, with a short subject preceding the main attraction. The 2017 season’s start has been delayed by terrible weekend weather, but Dorobialski said he plans to start up as soon as the weather behaves. Movies are chosen the same week they’re shown; check the Paul’s Alley Cinema Facebook page and
jsonline.com/movies for updates.