Are there any outdoor movie screenings?
Every summer, Calgary turns into a huge “cinema under the stars”: from the roof of a parking lot in the center to lake meadows on the outskirts of the city, from nine-meter inflatable screens in residential areas to classic drive-in theaters with double features. Below are all the main formats, venues, and tips so you don't miss a single outdoor premiere.
Hot classics: drive-in and drive-in formats
Heritage Park Retro Drive-In The historic park is transforming Parking Lot B into a retro drive-in with double features: first a family hit, then a film for a more mature audience. The 2025 season spans six evenings, from August 2 to 27, starting at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are sold “by the car,” $55–75 depending on location; club members receive a 15% discount.
High River Sunset Drive-In
50 km south, but within evening driving distance. This charitable volunteer venue operates from August to October on Fridays and Saturdays and donates half of its proceeds to local foundations. One ticket covers an entire car, $40.
TELUS Spark “The Drive-In” by B!G ART
LED screens, special effects, FM sound broadcast, and themed performances (pyrotechnics in chase scenes). After its pandemic debut, the project announced a “sequel” for 2024 and is preparing an expanded repertoire and accompanying concerts for 2025.
“Movies in the Park”: free outdoor entertainment
Every summer, city associations set up inflatable screens in parks and green areas. The formula is simple: music, food trucks, movies after sunset — and complete openness to all generations.
- Central Memorial Park — August 2 at 12:00 p.m. Moana 2.
- Bowness Movie in the Park — August 23, market from 3:00 p.m. and screening of Cool Runnings at 9:00 p.m.
- Sunalta “Movie in the Park” — September 13, Elemental, free admission and mini donuts on site.
- Trico Centre (Bonavista) — August 10, The Incredibles, family ticket $20.
A roof that became a movie theater: High Park “Movies With a View”
Calgary's highest public rooftop park (6 stories above the asphalt) is equipped with a 30-foot screen and a 4K projector. In 2025, the series will show a selection of indie hits from June to September; viewers sit on artificial grass with blankets, admission is free, and no reservations are required.
Midway & a Movie: movies + attractions at Heritage Park
Combo format: a vintage funfair is open from 7 p.m., and the movie starts at 9:30 p.m. on the Conklin Lakeview lawn. 2025: The Goonies + Indiana Jones (July 25), Jaws (August 3), Zombieland (September 12). Tickets are $24.95 and include attractions.
Spruce Meadows — “Movies at the Meadows”
During the “EPIC Weekends” tournament, the show jumping arena becomes a movie theater for 5,000 spectators. 2025 schedule: every Friday from June 6 to 27, plus July 4 — always a double feature (cartoon + blockbuster) and themed photo zones: airplane simulator, “Tom Cruise lookalike,” and more. Movies are included in the daytime tournament ticket.
Spontaneous “Movie on the Rise” and “St. Patrick's Island”
Every summer, the East Village Activation Team sets up a giant screen on The Rise hill. The format is a food market starting at 5:00 p.m., with movies at dusk and free admission. The schedule is announced only a month in advance, so it's worth subscribing to the social network @evexperience.
How to keep track of schedules
- Family Fun Calgary is the only guide to all outdoor screenings, constantly updating dates and prices.
- Eventbrite → filter “Outdoor Movie” / “Drive-In” — early sales and push reminders.
- BeltlineYYC.ca/movies — specifically for High Park screenings.
- HeritagePark.ca → Events — both drive-ins and the Midway series in one feed.
Life hacks for viewers under the stars
- Arrive 90 minutes before the event: the best spots are taken by blankets as soon as the gates open.
- Low folding chairs (festival chairs) don't block the screen for your neighbors — high backs are prohibited in many locations.
- In August and September, the temperature drops to 12 °C after 10 p.m.; a light jacket, blanket, and thermos are a must.
- High Park, Central Memorial, and Sunalta do not allow alcohol or glass; however, popcorn and non-alcoholic beverages are sold on site.
- For drive-ins, bring an FM radio with batteries: standing for hours with the car battery on is a sure way to end up with a dead battery.
Accessibility and barrier-free
- The front row parking spaces at Heritage Park Retro Drive-In have wider aisles and allow doors to be opened at a 90° angle, which is convenient for wheelchairs.
- High Park is equipped with an elevator from 10 Ave SW; the roof has a flat artificial lawn with no thresholds, so wheelchairs can be placed next to blankets.
Why are there so many outdoor movie theaters in Calgary?
The city has the longest dry, moderately warm season in Canada without significant humidity: from June to September, there are an average of 55 evenings with clear skies. In addition, the municipality actively supports ActivateYYC initiatives with grants for street events, and after the pandemic, it increased the fund to $3 million to encourage safe outdoor gatherings. This has allowed communities to rent inflatable screens and projectors at low cost and cultural institutions to experiment with locations ranging from parking lot rooftops to horse arenas.
Summary
From free Movies in the Park in residential neighborhoods to large-scale drive-in screenings at Heritage Park, Calgary offers dozens of ways to watch a movie without leaving the fresh air. Check out Family Fun Calgary and Eventbrite, grab a blanket, bug spray, and an FM radio, and choose between a rooftop with a view of downtown, a forest glade, or a classic drive-in. Summer is too short to watch movies indoors when the screen can be under the starry sky of the Bow River.