Where you can find free outdoor movies in the Milwaukee area
Free outdoor movies are coming back to Milwaukee-area parks. But like everything else this coronavirus-addled year, they’re a little later than normal.
And they might not be business as normal either.
The pandemic and the social-distancing mandates needed to rein in the spread of the disease led to the cancellation of some of the free movies booked for this summer, including all of those scheduled during May.
Other communities have the lights off on their outdoor movie tradition altogether. In early May, New Berlin announced it was suspending its annual Movies in the Park series based on “guidance from our local, county, and state officials.”
Similarly, the Bay View Neighborhood Association’s Film on the Hill series is on hold, as are the association’s other summer outdoor traditions until the dust settles.
But many communities and organizations are bringing their screens out before then, with a number of free outdoor movie programs starting up in June.
The new reality is being accounted for. Scott Fisher of Gift of Wings, which puts together the outdoor movie series for Greendale and Veterans Park in Milwaukee, said the screenings will be in space marked for special distancing, urging family groups to stay together.
Meanwhile, with the Milwaukee area (and much of the country) seeing a revival of the drive-in, communities are getting behind that wheel, too. For example, the City of Waukesha canceled its Monday Night Movies in the Park series for June and July over social-distancing concerns, but then scheduled a free drive-in movie at Waukesha North High School Aug. 17. Other communities are hosting oneoff drive-in showings, too.
Of course, the state of the coronavirus outbreak and any resurgence of same could throw a wrench in any of these plans. And social-distancing guidelines likely will alter the way people will be able to gather under the stars.
But here’s a guide to the free outdoor movies in the Milwaukee area this summer so far. Unless otherwise noted, the movies start at dusk.
Elm Grove
This summer, the village moved its free movies from Monday nights to Fridays, with the inaugural Friday Flicks series starting in mid-June in Elm Grove Village Park, 13600 Juneau Blvd. Movies are at 8:30 p.m.
June 19: “Frozen II”
June 26: “Ralph Breaks the Internet”
July 10: “Moana” (a “dive-in movie” showing at the park’s pool)
Aug. 1: “Toy Story 4” (4th annual Elm Grove Camp Out Movie)
Aug. 7: “Playing With Fire”
Aug. 14: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
Greendale
The village’s movie series, organized by Gift of Wings, screens in Greendale Gazebo Park, 5710 Broad St. June 13: “Frozen II”
Aug. 1: “Toy Story 4”
Sept. 19: “Abominable”
Greenfield
After canceling a June screening, Greenfield’s Summer Night Movies in the Park will return in July to The Amp in Konkel Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave. July 11: “Frozen II”
Aug. 1: “The Lion King” (2019 liveaction version)
Sept. 12: “Toy Story 4”
Hartland/Delafield
The Waukesha County communities continue their cinematic partnership this summer, with a trio of Disney movies.
Aug. 14: 8 p.m., “Frozen II,” Nixon Park, 175 E. Park Ave., Hartland
Aug. 21: 8 p.m., “Aladdin” (2019 liveaction version), Nixon Park, Hartland
Sept. 11: 7:30 p.m., “Toy Story 4,” Cushing Memorial Park, 600 N. Cushing Park Drive, Delafield
Marcus Center/Milwaukee
The Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St., converted its free outdoor movie series into a drive-in — a drive-in with a view. “Music & Movies,” a collection of movies with a music theme, will be shown on the top level of the parking deck across State Street from the performing arts center. The movies are scheduled to run on Thursdays and Fridays at least through June. It’s free, but you have to register online to get a digital ticket for entry. The gates open at 6:30 p.m.; the proceedings start at 7 p.m.
June 11: “Enchanted”
June 12: “Dreamgirls”
(Note: Screenings also planned for June 18, 19, 25 and 26, according to the website.)
Info and tickets: marcuscenter.org/ series/music-and-movies.
Oconomowoc
In recent years, the nonprofit organization Moonlit Movies had its program in Fowler Park and downtown Oconomowoc. This year, the first event, set for Thursday, is a drive-in movie outside Oconomowoc High
School, 641 E. Forest St. Activities starting at 8 p.m. (Reservations for 125 spots were snapped up quickly; there’s a waiting list.) The other scheduled dates are July 9 and Aug. 13, with formats to be determined. Check the group’s Facebook page for updates.
June 11: “Toy Story 4”
Port Washington
Sponsor Port Washington Main Street says the Friday Food Trucks & Friday Night Flicks is returning to Veteran’s Memorial Park, 410 N. Lake St., in August.
Aug. 14: “Frozen II”
Aug. 28: “Onward”
Sussex
The village’s Free Outdoor Movie Night will be held again in the Sussex Civic Center Plaza, N64-W23760 Main St.
Aug. 28: “Toy Story 4”
Veterans Park/Milwaukee
The first movie of the season in the park on Lake Michigan north of downtown Milwaukee, 1300 N. Lincoln Memorial Park, had been planned for May 30, but it’s been rescheduled. The series, organized by Gift of Wings, resumes in July, with screenings starting at dusk.
July 11: “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
Aug. 22: “Jumanji: The Next Level” Aug. 29: “Onward”
Sept. 6: Double-feature: “Toy Story 4” and “Abominable”
Waukesha
After years of holding free outdoor movies in Cutler Park, the city is trying something different this summer with a drive-in at Waukesha North High School, 2222 Michigan Ave. The movie will start at 8 p.m., but registration at the city’s website will be required.
Aug. 17: “Toy Story 4”