Summer movie nights under the stars
Merriweather Post and Lakefront offer a wealth of family-friendly films
Howard County offers several venues for families to watch outdoor movies under the stars during the summer months — or at in the case of Merriweather Post Pavilion, under a canopy.
“People like to go to movies outdoors,” said Ian Kennedy, executive director at Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission. Last year Merriweather hosted four movie nights, “and all were fairly successful. We had more than 6,000 [people] over the course of all four movie nights last year.”
This year, the commission opened the season last weekend with a free double feature showing of the animated film “Sing” and “Dirty Dancing”from 1987. It will now feature a movie a month on a weeknight, with the classic mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap” slated for Thursday, June 21.
The venue hosts musical concerts most weekends.
“In the summer… it’s not a school night,”
Kennedy said. “Concerts bring this place money and in some ways, keep movie nights possible.”
Movies are shown rain or shine, Kennedy said, as the pavilion offers seats under a roof though families are welcome to sit on the lawn. While the opening night was free, Kennedy said there will be a small charge for seats in the pavilion for remaining shows.
“There is a unique atmosphere here at Merriweather for movie nights that you don’t get at concerts,” Kennedy said. “They have been really great events.”
Tom Brzezinski knows that movies are a great way to bring people together. He has been showing movies for Columbia Association at Columbia’s lakefront for 47 years on Monday and Friday nights.
“I enjoy seeing the families when they come and see the light in the children’s eyes,” Brzezinski said. “I see kids who attended films in their youth coming back to see them with their families.”
This year’s season on the lakefront starts on June 18 with a showing of “The Secret Lives of Pets,” which was scheduled last year but was rained out. The season ends the weekend of Sept. 7-8.
Brzezinski obtains copyrights and clearances for showing the films. He tries to schedule films to coincide with movies in the theaters. For example, he has a showing of the Disney movie “The Incredibles” planned before the release of its sequel scheduled for this June in the theaters.
“Last season, people requested more animated films and more Marvel films” he said.
He has built good relationships with his contacts, he said, and often receives a variety of free giveaways, from T-shirts and pirate “booty” bags to movie posters and even free movie passes.
Outdoor Movie Schedule MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Films start at 8:30 p.m.,doors open at 7p.m. Tickets are$5 to $10. Movies are hosted by the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission.
Thursday, June 21: This is Spinal Tap (R) July and August dates to be announced.
LAKEFRONT MOVIES Begin at dusk, typically around 8:30 p.m. on the lawn at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront off of Little Patuxent Parkway. All showings are free with movies co-sponsored by the Columbia Film Society.
JUNE Monday, June 18: The Secret Life Of Pets (PG) Friday, June 22: Marvel’s Black Panther (PG-13) Monday, June 25: Captain Underpants (PG) Friday, June 29: Marvel’s Ant-Man (PG-13) JULY Monday, July 2: Japanese Anime Fantasy Film: Mary and the Witch’s Flower (PG) Friday, July 6: The Lego Batman Movie (PG) Monday, July 9: Paddington 2 (PG) Monday, July 16: Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004) (PG) Friday, July 20 Wonder Woman (PG-13) Monday, July 23 Disney’s Animated Classic: The Princess and the Frog (PG) Friday, July 27 Wonder (PG) Monday, July 30 Disney’s Classic: Bambi (G) AUGUST Friday, Aug. 3: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (PG-13) Monday, Aug. 6: Disney’s Classic: The Lion King (G) Friday, Aug. 10: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (PG-13) Monday, Aug. 13: Disney’s Frozen (PG) Friday, Aug. 17: Marvel’s Doctor Strange (PG-13) Friday, Aug. 24: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG-13) Monday, Aug. 27: Disney’s Wreck-It- Ralph (PG) SEPTEMBER Saturday, Sept. 1: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (PG-13) Friday, Sept. 7: Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok (PG-13) Saturday, Sept. 8: Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War (PG-13) kvjones@baltsun.com
“People like to go to movies outdoors,” said Ian Kennedy, executive director at Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission. Last year Merriweather hosted four movie nights, “and all were fairly successful. We had more than 6,000 [people] over the course of all four movie nights last year.”
This year, the commission opened the season last weekend with a free double feature showing of the animated film “Sing” and “Dirty Dancing”from 1987. It will now feature a movie a month on a weeknight, with the classic mockumentary “This is Spinal Tap” slated for Thursday, June 21.
The venue hosts musical concerts most weekends.
“In the summer… it’s not a school night,”
Kennedy said. “Concerts bring this place money and in some ways, keep movie nights possible.”
Movies are shown rain or shine, Kennedy said, as the pavilion offers seats under a roof though families are welcome to sit on the lawn. While the opening night was free, Kennedy said there will be a small charge for seats in the pavilion for remaining shows.
“There is a unique atmosphere here at Merriweather for movie nights that you don’t get at concerts,” Kennedy said. “They have been really great events.”
Tom Brzezinski knows that movies are a great way to bring people together. He has been showing movies for Columbia Association at Columbia’s lakefront for 47 years on Monday and Friday nights.
“I enjoy seeing the families when they come and see the light in the children’s eyes,” Brzezinski said. “I see kids who attended films in their youth coming back to see them with their families.”
This year’s season on the lakefront starts on June 18 with a showing of “The Secret Lives of Pets,” which was scheduled last year but was rained out. The season ends the weekend of Sept. 7-8.
Brzezinski obtains copyrights and clearances for showing the films. He tries to schedule films to coincide with movies in the theaters. For example, he has a showing of the Disney movie “The Incredibles” planned before the release of its sequel scheduled for this June in the theaters.
“Last season, people requested more animated films and more Marvel films” he said.
He has built good relationships with his contacts, he said, and often receives a variety of free giveaways, from T-shirts and pirate “booty” bags to movie posters and even free movie passes.
Outdoor Movie Schedule MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Films start at 8:30 p.m.,doors open at 7p.m. Tickets are$5 to $10. Movies are hosted by the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission.
Thursday, June 21: This is Spinal Tap (R) July and August dates to be announced.
LAKEFRONT MOVIES Begin at dusk, typically around 8:30 p.m. on the lawn at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront off of Little Patuxent Parkway. All showings are free with movies co-sponsored by the Columbia Film Society.
JUNE Monday, June 18: The Secret Life Of Pets (PG) Friday, June 22: Marvel’s Black Panther (PG-13) Monday, June 25: Captain Underpants (PG) Friday, June 29: Marvel’s Ant-Man (PG-13) JULY Monday, July 2: Japanese Anime Fantasy Film: Mary and the Witch’s Flower (PG) Friday, July 6: The Lego Batman Movie (PG) Monday, July 9: Paddington 2 (PG) Monday, July 16: Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004) (PG) Friday, July 20 Wonder Woman (PG-13) Monday, July 23 Disney’s Animated Classic: The Princess and the Frog (PG) Friday, July 27 Wonder (PG) Monday, July 30 Disney’s Classic: Bambi (G) AUGUST Friday, Aug. 3: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (PG-13) Monday, Aug. 6: Disney’s Classic: The Lion King (G) Friday, Aug. 10: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (PG-13) Monday, Aug. 13: Disney’s Frozen (PG) Friday, Aug. 17: Marvel’s Doctor Strange (PG-13) Friday, Aug. 24: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG-13) Monday, Aug. 27: Disney’s Wreck-It- Ralph (PG) SEPTEMBER Saturday, Sept. 1: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (PG-13) Friday, Sept. 7: Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok (PG-13) Saturday, Sept. 8: Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War (PG-13) kvjones@baltsun.com
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