Family Friendly Boston – What to Know About Free Cambridge City Movies in the Park

While attending our weekly Book Bike excursions last summer I was fortunate enough to be handed fliers for all sorts of other kid friendly events going on around Cambridge for the summer.  One such activity was Cambridge City Parks Movies on the Green.

Each week during the summer, I believe it was on a Wednesday night, Cambridge city gets a giant inflatable screen and hosts a movie night.  These movies take place at different parks every week and all the movies are kid friendly thought not all of them are animated.

We went to one such movie night, set out some lawn chairs, and waited for sun down.  There was about an hours worth of pre-show entertainment in the form of Jenny the Juggler.  We got to see the movie “The Penguins of Madagascar,” and once the movie started city workers showed up and handed out bags of popcorn and drinks to everyone who was there (for free).

In any case we had an awesome evening. These are really fun events to attend and they may be closer to you than the Hatch Shell movies on the Green (that happen every Friday during the summer) or the Prudential Center Movies (that happen every Saturday).

Things to Note: 

1) Price
Free.  Just show up at one of the parks sometime after 7 and look for the big screen before throwing down your blanket.

2) Kid Friendliness
Very kid friendly.  These events are totally targeted at children and all the movies are kid/family friendly films.  Also these are at park so if your child/children at not that into the movie it’s really easy to step away and run around a little bit.

3) Stroller Friendliness 
Yup, bring your stroller if you so choose.  I would also recommend lawn chairs if you have them and if not lawn chairs at least a blanket to sit/lay on.

4) Start Time
They start at sun down… like when the sun is all the way gone and it’s starting to get dark, so during the summer this usually means some time after 8pm, which can be late for young ones.  We only went once with our two year old (as a special treat) and he loved it, but I based on the flier I had received I was expecting it to start earlier.  So, note, the event starts at 7, with about an hour of pre-show entertainment and then the movie starts once it’s dark.

5) Pre show Entertainment 
They had something going before each of the movies so you can come as early as you want to enjoy the park and fun before the movie begins.  For us there were also a couple of different people/companies from around the area with tables set up with a few crafts/treats for the kids.

6) Parking
Most of the parks don’t have dedicated parking though there is street parking in the area and sometimes metered parking.

7) Bathrooms
Eek!  A lot of these parks don’t have dedicated bathrooms.  We usually end up scoping out the nearest Dunkin Donuts on our walks there (I will happily buy a $1 donut to use the bathroom, and they seem to be on just about every other street corner) You might want to scope out some business with bathrooms in advance if you think this might be a concern.

2016 Movie Line Up and Parks:

  • THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 7:00 PM – ECBA MOVIE NIGHT

    Featuring: Cate Flaherty – “Great Cate” Acrobat
    @ East Cambridge Savings Bank Lot: 292 Cambridge St, Cambridge 

  • THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 7:00 PM – KSA MOVIE NIGHT

    @ Volpe Lawn  – 55 Broadway. Cambridge

  • TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 7:00 PM – THE PORT MOVIE NIGHT

    @ Green Rose Heritage Park – 155 Harvard St, Cambridge

  • THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 7:00 PM – ISBA MOVIE NIGHT

    @ East Cambridge Savings Bank – Inmen Branch Lot: 1310 Cambridge St, Cambridge

  • TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 7:00 PM – CSBA MOVIE NIGHT

    Featuring: Koolkidz Beatbox
    @ TBA

  • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 7:00 PM – HSBA MOVIE NIGHT

    Featuring: Four Shadow Band
    @ Palmer St, Harvard Square

Summary and Rating ★★★★★

Five Stars.  We loved being able to get out and see a movie and it was nice to see them at different parks around Cambridge.  It made it easy for us to find one that was within walking distance.  We also loved having something going on before the movie started, though it was a little difficult to have a little one out so late.  In any case it was a fun family night out and I would highly recommend getting out and seeing one of these movies with your family/friends this summer.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Family Friendly Boston – What to Know About Free Hatch Shell Summer Movies (With List of 2016 Movies)

Friday nights all summer long you can head over to the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade to check out a free movie on the green.  The first time we went we came equipped with blankets and snacks. We quickly realized that we had no need to bring our own snacks because there were vendors lining the green handing out all kinds of sample snacks.  We ended up getting some free ice cream bars, mini chocolates, popcorn, flavored water, mini salad with a fork, and more.

While waiting for the movie to start there is also great pre-movie entertainment.  When we went there was an announcer standing near the Hatch Shell playing games with the crowd and giving away random things like T-shirts for prizes.

Then the movie started and we settled in to enjoy our night.

Movie Line Up 2016

June, 2016 
Friday June 24, Sunset (8:25 pm) – “Mininons”

 July, 2016 
 Friday July 15, Sunset (8:19 pm) – “Cinderella (2015)”
 Friday July 22, Sunset (8:13 pm) – “Inside Out (2015)”
 Friday July 29, Sunset (8:06 pm) – “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

 August 2016 
 Friday August 5, Sunset (7:58 pm) – “The Good Dinosaur”
 Friday August 12, Sunset (7:48 pm) -“Jurassic World”
 Friday August 19, Sunset (7:38 pm) – “UP”
 Friday August 26, Sunset (7:26 pm) -“Ant-Man”

Things to Note:

1) Prices
Free, come enjoy this awesome event every Friday night all summer long.

2) Kid Friendliness
Totally kid friendly.  Lots of space to run around and all the movies are kid friendly films, mostly animated but a few that aren’t and are just family friendly.

3) Stroller Friendliness
Yes, stroller friendly.  Bring a stroller, bring a blanket, maybe even bring lawn chairs if you can swing it.

4) Volume
We were sitting not super close to the front, probably in the first third of the field and the movie was LOUD.  Super loud for our then infant son.  When picking your sitting location check out where the speakers are and consider moving away from them, I promise you will be able to hear the movie from any place on that field.

5) Getting There
There is limited parking near the Esplanade, but you would be much better off taking the “T”.  It’s about a five minute walk from the Red Line – MGH station.

Summary and Rating ★★★★★

Five Stars.  We loved this activity, it was one we felt like we could go to with our young son to see a movie and get out without disturbing others and as he’s gotten older it’s only gotten better.  He loves it and we love it making it a really fun summer outing.  Plus, how can you complain about free? Especially when a free movie also comes with lots of free snacks.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Hatch Memorial Shell
47 David G Mugar Way
Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 626-1250
Website: http://www.hatchshell.com/