Skip to content

3 Outdoor Movies to Catch This Holiday Weekend

Our top picks for the season’s final outdoor film weekend

By Gavin Borchert August 27, 2019

people watching movie in open air cinema in city park
people watching movie in open air cinema in city park

Traditionally, Labor Day weekend marks (don’t say it!) the end of summer, but there are still a few final chances to catch outdoor movies (and avoid the crowds at Bumbershoot, if you like). Two are family-friendly, one decidedly isn’t. Pack up the lawn chairs and the picnic basket before you store them for the winter:

The Big Lebowski • 8:30 p.m., Thursday, August 29, 8:30 p.m.

A case of mistaken identity sets in motion the ridiculously complex, film-noir-spoofing plot of the the Coen Brothers 1998 cult fave, probably the most quotable film since Casablanca, with its fantastic cast of character actors: John Goodman’s hyperintense Vietnam vet (“You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. . . . Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o’clock this afternoon”), Julianne Moore’s languid artiste (“It’s a male myth about feminists that we hate sex. It can be a natural, zesty enterprise”), Sam Elliott’s avuncular narrator (“The Dude abides. I don’t know about you but I take comfort in that”), and of course Jeff Bridges’ iconic slacker (“That rug really tied the room together”). Peddler Brewing Company’s covered beer garden is the site; plenty of beer, but you may need to sneak in your own White Russians in a flask. Free. 1514 NW Leary Way; 360-362-0002; peddlerbrewing.com

Lilo & Stitch • 8:15 p.m., Thursday, August 29

One’s a headstrong 5-year-old, the other’s an obstreperous escaped space alien, and they come together for one of Disney’s most unusual stories ever, superimposing sci-fi atop traditional Hawaiian culture and a soundtrack full of Elvis songs. Keep an eye out for the gorgeous backgrounds; it’s a return to the painterly watercolor style of Disney’s earliest animated classics like Snow White. This bike-in screening’s a joint presentation of Northwest Film Forum, Bike Works, Urban Artworks, and NW Folklife, with art activities and live music before the show at 6 p.m. Free. Pratt Park, 1800 S Main St.; nwfilmforum.org

Finding Nemo • dusk, Friday, August 30

Concluding Magnuson Park’s summer lineup of movies about animals is this animated adventure from Pixar, a quest film set among sea life in the colorful tropical waters off the coast of Australia. (The film’s main human character, the demonic brat Darla, is like the dark side of Lilo.) A financial and critical blockbuster, it inspired a sequel to showcase Ellen DeGeneres’ hilarious voice work as Dory. Free. Magnuson Park Auditorium, 7400 Sand Point Way; blog.scarecrow.com

Follow Us

Studio Sessions: Jo Cosme

Studio Sessions: Jo Cosme

The Seattle-based multimedia artist and 2026 Neddy Award winner challenges the postcard version of Puerto Rico and centers the persistence of its people.

Jo Cosme knows how seductive a postcard can be. The Seattle-based Boricua (Puerto Rican) multimedia artist works across photography, installation, video, sound, and interactive elements to examine and pull apart how Puerto Rico is seen, sold, and misunderstood from the outside. Trained in photojournalism, with a BFA in photography from Puerto Rico School of Fine…

Seattle's Drag Brunch Has History

Seattle’s Drag Brunch Has History

The city’s Sunday shows started long before the mimosas got bottomless.

There was a time not too long ago, when drag performances—now a mainstay of Seattle’s queer scene—were kept under wraps. And when brunches, complete with singing and dancing queens dressed in dazzling drag as you sipped mimosas, weren’t a Sunday staple.  During the 1940s and ‘50s, an era largely shaped by restrictive laws and bias…

Studio Sessions: Sangram Majumdar

Studio Sessions: Sangram Majumdar

Working at the confluence of history, culture, and various painting traditions, UW associate professor Sangram Majumdar is one of this year’s Neddy Artist Award winners.

Discover the art of UW professor Sangram Majumdar, a 2026 Neddy Artist Award winner. Learn about his inspiration and upcoming Seattle exhibition at Cornish.

Rearview Mirror: A Georgian Dinner, Sidewalk Sips, and One-of-a-Kind Clothing

Rearview Mirror: A Georgian Dinner, Sidewalk Sips, and One-of-a-Kind Clothing

Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).

A new life for old clothes To celebrate one year in its current studio, the FXRY—a clothing repair service available via in-person appointments, home pickup, or mail-in drop off—is dropping its first collection. A small batch of reworked pieces, Second Mark will feature 13 vintage barn jackets, cropped, chain-stitched, and renewed into a completely unique, one-of-one…