Outdoor Movies in Downtown Raleigh

Updated May 3, 2024

Want to have Southern Picnics set up a picnic for your movie screening? Contact us on our Book a Picnic page and we’d be happy to host your evening under the stars!

North Carolina Museum of Art Movies

The North Carolina Museum of Art hosts outdoor movies in the summertime in the Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park.

North Carolina Museum of Art Movies in 2024

Purchase tickets to an outdoor movie at NCMA here.

Saturday, June 15, 2024: The Color Purple

Friday, July 12, 2024: Moana

Saturday, July 13, 2024: Barbie

Saturday, July 20, 2024: Kiki’s Delivery Service

Saturday, July 27, 2024: Purple Rain

Saturday, August 3, 2024: Mad Max: Fury Road

Friday, August 9, 2024: Killing Romance

Saturday, August 10, 2024: Dreamgirls

Saturday, September 7, 2024: Wonka

Friday, September 13, 2024: Kung Fu Hustle

Saturday, September 14, 2024: Double Feature! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Friday, September 27, 2024: Double Feature! Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Friday, October 4, 2024: Batman in concert with Live Symphony Orchestra

Saturday, October 5, 2024: Spirited Away

Saturday, October 12, 2024: Double Feature! Sister Act and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Dorothea Dix Park Movies

Dix Park is hosting a movie on the lawn series for families in Raleigh in the Flowers Field. All movies are free but they do ask that you register ahead of time so they know how many guests to expect.

Dix Park Movies on the Lawn in 2023

2024 movies have not yet been announced. We will update this page when they’re announced!

Saturday, August 5, 2023: Movie TBD

  • 7:00 PM: Event gates open

  • 8:30 PM: Movie screening starts

  • 10:00 PM - Movie ends

Tickets are not required, however, RSVPs help Dix Park plan for how many people to expect and you can receive important event information including inclement weather information.

RSVP online here.

Saturday, October 28, 2023: Halloween Double Movie TBD

  • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Halloween activities and costume parade

  • 7:00 PM: First movie (TBD) begins

  • 9:00 PM: Second movie (TBD) begins

  • 11:00 PM - Movie ends

RSVP online here.

Raleigh Little Theatre Movies in the Garden

Enjoy a movie in the open air with the scent of roses wafting in the air! Raleigh Litte Theatre, right behind the Raleigh Rose Garden, has the Stephenson Amphitheatre and is hosting movies again this spring. Tickets are a “pay what you can” pricing starting at $1, but all contributions allow the Raleigh Little Theatre to keep their tuition affordable and offer scholarships.

Movies in the Raleigh Rose Garden in 2023

Thursday, May 23, 2024: Moulin Rouge!

Purchase your tickets here.

Moore Square Movies

Looking for a fun outdoor activity for Thursday night? Check out Cinema in the Square in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square. This is a free outdoor movie that’s open to everyone! On select days from July through October, you can enjoy a movie under the stars.

Before the movie starts, there will be a pre-show entertainment show in line with the theme of the night’s movie. You’re welcome to bring your own picnic, but food and drink will also be available for purchase.

Moore Square Movie Schedule 2023

Friday, April 7, 2023: The Lego Movie

Friday, May 5, 2023: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Friday, June 2, 2023: Mamma Mia!

Friday, July 7, 2023: Men in Black

Friday, August 4, 2023: The Princess and the Frog

Friday, September 1, 2023: Back to the Future

Friday, October 6, 2023: The Mummy

Friday, November 3, 2023: Coco

Friday, December 1, 2023: Home Alone

The Evening of Movie Schedule

7-:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Pre-show entertainment 
8:00 PM: Movie screening begins

Food and Drink

- On-site concessions will be available for purchase at Square Burger and various food trucks.

- You’re welcome to bring your own food and beverage as well.

Location and Parking

- Moore Square, 200 South Blount Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

- McLaurin Parking Garage and Moore Square Lot are two parking lots near Moore Square. Reference this map of nearby parking lots for more information.

- Parking in the Moore Square Lot is $1.50/hour for the first four hours and $2/hour after four hours.

Sources

- North Carolina Museum of Art. “Outdoor Films”. https://ncartmuseum.org/series/outdoor-films/. 20 March 2023

- Downtown Raleigh Alliance. “First Friday Series Moore Square”. https://raleighnc.gov/parks/first-friday-series-moore-square. 20 March 2023

- Raleigh Little Theatre. “Shows and Events”. https://raleighlittletheatre.org/shows-and-events/. 20 March 2023

- RaleighNC.gov. “Parking Deck Rates”. https://raleighnc.gov/services/transit-streets-and-sidewalks/parking-deck-rates. 29 September 2o21

About the Author

Angela Byrnes - Owner, Southern Picnics

Angela is the owner of Southern Picnics and started the business in September 2020. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Writing and Literature. She later attended Duke University where she received a certificate in Digital Media and Marketing

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