What’s better than catching a movie under the stars? Below you’ll find The Western Front’s guide to the who, what, when and where of outdoor cinema in Whatcom County this summer. Whether you’re looking for musicals, classic adventures, critically acclaimed comedies or family friendly CGI, you’re sure to find to find it in the coming months. Our chronological guide includes film descriptions, dates, times, transportation, food options, accessibility and more. See you at the movies!
Freaky Friday
Photo: Credit
What: Freaky Friday (1976)
“Annabel Andrews (Jodie Foster) and her mother, Ellen (Barbara Harris), don't always see eye to eye. After a particularly frustrating argument on Friday the 13th, the two simultaneously wish they could switch places — and suddenly their wish is granted. Each discovers how difficult it is to be in the other's shoes, with Ellen causing chaos at Annabel's school, and Annabel unable to deal with her mother's domestic duties. The two learn a lot about themselves and their relationship in the process.” Description: Credit
When: Friday, July 14. Doors open at 8 p.m., movie begins at dusk.
Where: Pioneer Park in Ferndale
Parking/Transportation: Limited street parking will be available, as well as on site parking. WTA route 27 serves Ferndale until quarter past 9 p.m..
Price: Free!
Family Friendly? Rated G
Food: FREE hot dogs while supplies last. Outside food and beverages are permitted. Ice cream and candy will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating. Blankets and lawn chairs are permitted.
Moana
Photo: Credit
What: Moana (2016)
“From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes ‘Moana,’ a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who is inspired to leave the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people.” Description: Credit
When: Saturday, July 15. Seating opens at 7:15 p.m. movie begins at dusk.
Where: Fairhaven Village Green
Parking/Transportation: Street parking is available throughout downtown Fairhaven. WTA routes 1, 5 and 14 serve Fairhaven.
Price: $5 per person. Five-years-old and under is free.
Family Friendly? Rated PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements.
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted. Hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating (blankets recommended). Lawn chairs are not allowed on the grass, but a limited number of spaces for chairs are available on the brick area surrounding the grass.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Photo: Credit
What: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
“From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,’ an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction.” Description: Credit
When: Saturday, July 22. seating opens at 7:15, movie begins at dusk.
Where: Fairhaven Village Green
Parking/Transportation: Street parking is available throughout downtown Fairhaven. WTA routes 1, 5 and 14 serve Fairhaven
Price: $5 per person. age five and under is free.
Family Friendly? Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating (blankets recommended). Lawn chairs are not allowed on the grass, but a limited number of spaces for chairs are available on the brick area surrounding the grass.
The Wiz
Photo: Credit
What: The Wiz (1978)
“When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog from a storm, she’s miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East upon her arrival, Dorothy is told about the Wiz (Richard Pryor), a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan. As Dorothy goes in search of the Wiz, she’s joined by the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell) and the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross).” Description: Credit
When: Friday, July 28. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., including beer garden, food trucks and vendors. Live music begins at 7 p.m., film begins at dusk (roughly 8:30 p.m.)
Where: The rooftop of the Parkade, 1300 Commercial Street in Bellingham.
Parking/Transportation: Four floors of free parking below the event in the parkade. Downtown WTA station is located at Railroad and Magnolia.
Price: Free!
Family Friendly? Rated PG for some scary moments.
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating. Lawn chairs are permitted.
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Photo: Credit
What: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
“Enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) stages a contest by hiding five golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy.” Description: Credit
When: Saturday, July 29, seating opens at 7:15 p.m., movie begins at dusk.
Where: Fairhaven Village Green
Parking/Transportation: Street parking is available throughout downtown Fairhaven. WTA routes 1, 5 and 14 serve Fairhaven.
Price: $5 per person. age five and under is free.
Family Friendly: Rated PG for some scary moments.
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating (blankets recommended). Lawn chairs are not allowed on the grass, but a limited number of spaces for chairs are available on the brick area surrounding the grass.
The Lorax
Photo: Credit
What: The Lorax (2012)
“A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.” Description: Credit
When: Wednesday, August 2, doors open at 8 p.m., movie begins at dusk.
Where: Pioneer Park in Ferndale
Parking/Transportation: Limited street parking will be available, as well as on site parking. WTA route 27 serves Ferndale until quarter past 9 p.m..
Price: Free!
Family Friendly? Rated PG for brief mild language.
Food: FREE hot dogs while supplies last. Outside food and beverages are permitted. Ice cream and candy will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating, blankets and lawn chairs are permitted.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Photo: Credit
What: Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)
“When Dr. Henry Jones Sr. suddenly goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, eminent archaeologist Indiana Jones must follow in his father's footsteps to stop the Nazis from getting their hands on the Holy Grail first.” Description: Credit
When: Saturday August 5, seating opens at 7:15, movie begins at dusk
Where: Fairhaven Village Green
Parking/Transportation: Street parking is available throughout downtown Fairhaven. WTA routes 1, 5 and 14 serve Fairhaven.
Price: $5 per person. age five and under is free.
Family Friendly? Rated PG-13 for action/adventure violence, brief language, scary images and some sensuality.
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating (blankets recommended). Lawn chairs are not allowed on the grass, but a limited number of spaces for chairs are available on the brick area surrounding the grass.
Finding Dory
Photo: Credit
What: Finding Dory (2016)
“Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is a wide-eyed, blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss every 10 seconds or so. The one thing she can remember is that she somehow became separated from her parents as a child. With help from her friends Nemo and Marlin, Dory embarks on an epic adventure to find them. Her journey brings her to the Marine Life Institute, a conservatory that houses diverse ocean species. Dory now knows that her family reunion will only happen if she can save mom and dad from captivity.” Description: Credit
When: Saturday August 12, seating opens at 7:15 p.m., movie begins at dusk
Where: Fairhaven Village Green
Parking/Transportation: Street parking is available throughout downtown Fairhaven. WTA routes 1, 5 and 14 serve Fairhaven.
Price: $5 per person, age five and under is free.
Family Friendly? PG for mild thematic elements.
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating (blankets recommended). Lawn chairs are not allowed on the grass, but a limited number of spaces for chairs are available on the brick area surrounding the grass.
La La Land
Photo: Credit
What: La La Land (2016)
“Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. But as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.” Description: Credit
When: Saturday August 19, seating opens at 7:15, movie begins at dusk
Where: Fairhaven Village Green
Parking/Transportation: Street parking is available throughout downtown Fairhaven. WTA routes 1, 5 and 14 serve Fairhaven.
Price: $5 per person, age five and under is free.
Family Friendly? Rated PG-13 for some language.
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating (blankets recommended). Lawn chairs are not allowed on the grass, but a limited number of spaces for chairs are available on the brick area surrounding the grass.
O Brother, Where Art Thou
Photo: Credit
What: O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000)
“Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) is having difficulty adjusting to his hard-labor sentence in Mississippi. He scams his way off the chain gang with simple Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) and maladjusted Pete (John Turturro), then the trio sets out to pursue freedom and the promise of a fortune in buried treasure. With nothing to lose and still in shackles, their hasty run takes them on an incredible journey of awesome experiences and colorful characters.” Description: Credit
When: Friday, August 25. gates open at 6:30 p.m., including beer garden, food trucks and vendors. Live music begins at 7 p.m., film begins at dusk (roughly 8:30pm)
Where: The rooftop of the Parkade, 1300 Commercial Street
Parking/Transportation: Four floors of free parking below the event in the parkade. Downtown WTA station is located at Railroad and Magnolia.
Price: Free!
Family Friendly? Rated PG-13 for some violence and language.
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating. Lawn chairs are permitted.
The Princess Bride
Photo: Credit
What: The Princess Bride (1984)
“A fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love. He must find her after a long separation and save her. They must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with each other. Based on the William Goldman novel "The Princess Bride" which earned its own loyal audience.” Description: Credit
When: Saturday August 26, seating opens at 7:15, movie begins at dusk.
Where: Fairhaven Village Green
Parking/Transportation: Street parking is available throughout downtown Fairhaven. WTA routes 1, 5 and 14 serve Fairhaven.
Price: $5 per person, age five and under is free.
Family Friendly? Rated PG (adult situations/language).
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating (blankets recommended). Lawn chairs are not allowed on the grass, but a limited number of spaces for chairs are available on the brick area surrounding the grass.
Stop Making Sense
Photo: Credit
What: Stop Making Sense (1999)
“Director Jonathan Demme captures the frantic energy and artsy groove of Talking Heads in this concert movie shot at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in 1983. The band’s frontman, David Byrne, first appears on an empty stage, armed with only an acoustic guitar, and is gradually joined by bassist Tina Weymouth, drummer Chris Frantz, keyboardist Jerry Harrison and a cadre of backup singers as they perform the band’s hits, culminating in an iconic performance featuring Byrne in an enormous suit.” Description: Credit
When: Friday, September 8 gates open at 6:30 p.m., including beer garden, food court, and vendors. Live music begins at 7 p.m., film begins at dusk (roughly 8:30 p.m.).
Where: The rooftop of the Parkade, 1300 Commercial Street.
Parking/Transportation: Four floors of free parking below the event in the parkade. Downtown WTA station is located at Railroad and Magnolia.
Price: Free!
Family Friendly? Not Rated
Food: Outside food and beverages are permitted, hot snacks and food will be available for purchase.
Seating: Bring your own seating. Lawn chairs are permitted.
