And… action! As summer approaches, a familiar annual scene is playing out at locations throughout the Des Moines area, the season of FREE or nearly free, outdoor summer movie series has started rolling. And, due to the pandemic we’ve seen the revival of the nearly extinct novelty of the drive-in!
Grab your calendars and start plotting your summer of entertainment now! And be sure to check out the other amazing seasonal activities in our Summer Fun Guide.
Editor’s Note: This is a working list, so please check back often for updates and additional events.
Pack up the family and a bottle of bug spray and head out to enjoy a movie under the stars in Des Moines:
Drive-In Movies in the Des Moines Area
Valle Drive In
4074 Highway F48 W • Newton, IA 50208 • (641) 792-3558
Valle Drive In is an old-fashioned drive-in theater with double features, a concession stand, and is typically open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Due to last year’s storm damage the drive-in has not set an opening date for 2022. Gates open at 6:30 pm and the main feature starts at dusk. General Admission (Ages 12 and up ) $8.00; Kids Admission (Ages 5 to 11) $5.00; FREE Admission (Kids 4 and under). Visit their website to learn more.
Hy-Vee Drive In Theatre at Valley West Mall
Valley West Mall • 551 Valley W Drive • West Des Moines, IA 50266 • (515) 779-5959
Movies will be shown on the the south end of the Valley West Mall parking area every Thursday through Sunday June through October, 2022. Two features will be shown each evening with a family friendly movie typically shown earlier. There is also a play area for children and food and beverage vendors will be on-site, including a bar for those 21 and older. Admission is $20 per car for the early showing and $25 for the late showing. Visit the website for movie listings and to purchase tickets.
Outdoor Movie Series in the Des Moines Area
Ankeny
Movies Under the Stars
Movies Under the Stars is held on Friday nights in June and July in the Band Shell in Wagner Park (410 W 1st Street, Ankeny). The movies begin at dusk. The movies are FREE and open to the public; bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating.
June 3: Onward
June 10: Angry Birds 2
June 17: Wall-E
June 24: Sing 2
July 15: Luca
July 22: Encanto
July 29: The Boss Baby: Family Business
Uptown Ankeny Outdoor Cinema
Relax in the Backyard behind Porch Light Coffeehouse and Uptown Garage Brewing Co. in Uptown Ankeny and watch your favorite summer (and fall) movies. The FREE movies will start at sunset every-other-Saturday until the end of October.
June 18: The Goonies
July 2: Jurassic Park
July 16: Dirty Dancing
July 30: Elf
August 13: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
August 27: Raiders of the Lost Ark
September 10: Back to the Future
September 24: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
October 8: Hocus Pocus
October 22: The Addams Family
October 29: Tim Burton double Feature: The Nightmare Before Christmas & Corpse Bride
Clive
Sunday Night Family Movie Series
Clive Parks and Recreation is hosting multiple Sunday Night Family Movie nights in various Clive parks. Bring the family out for an evening movie under the stars. The movie will be broadcast through a raised LED digital screen. Make sure to bring some bug spray, lawn chairs, and blankets and enjoy the outdoors.
May 15: Encanto – Linnan Park
May 22: Trolls: World Tour – Country Club Glen Park
June 12: The Croods: A New Age – Wildwood Park
August 7: Raya and the Last Dragon – Linnan Park
September 18: Cruella – Linnan Park
Des Moines
Free Flicks
Free Flicks is a summer outdoor movie series shown on Friday nights throughout the Des Moines area. The films are shown on a 25-foot portable screen, and will begin after sunset around 9:00 pm. Admission is FREE, blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. Feel free to bring your own snacks as concessions are not provided. Movies will not take place in the event of rain. Follow Des Moines Parks and Recreation’s website, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates or sign up for their text messaging notification service.
June 10: Sing 2 – Stone Park (2100 SE 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50315)
June 24: Guardians of the Galaxy – Tower Park (4900 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310)
July 8: Encanto – Des Moines Art Center (4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312)
July 22: Wreck It Ralph – Fourmile Community Recreation Center (3711 Easton Blvd, Des Moines, IA 50317)
August 5: Happy Gilmore – A. H. Blank Golf Course (808 County Line Rd, Des Moines, IA 50320)
August 19: Soul – Brian Melton Park (1000 Jefferson Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314)
Indianola
Starlight Cinema Outdoor Movies
Provide your family with unforgettable memories on Friday evenings this summer watching FREE family-friendly movies under the stars at the Memorial Park Amphitheater. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Food Trucks will be available from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Be sure to check the start time of each movie, as they change each month.
May 20: The War with Grandpa
June 17: Luca
July 15: Space Jam: A New Legacy
August 5: Tom & Jerry
Urbandale
Free Friday Flicks
Pack your lawn chairs and blankets and bring your friends and family to enjoy an evening under the stars at one of Urbandale Parks and Recreation’s FREE outdoor movies. Movies will be shown at a different location each month and will start at sunset. Parking lots will be open an hour prior to the show and food trucks will be on site.
June 3: National Treasure – City Hall Parking Lot (3600 86th Street, Urbandale)
July 29: Encanto – Walker Johnston Regional Park Giovannetti Parking Lot (9000 Douglas Avenue, Urbandale)
August 26: Guardians of the Galax – Large Shelter at Walnut Creek Regional Park (4100 Walnut Creek Park Road, Urbandale)
Waukee
Movies in the Park
This FREE event is a great way to make memories with your family and neighbors at Centennial Park in Waukee while enjoying Hollywood’s biggest hits under the stars. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Movies start at approximately 8:45 pm.
June 3: Luca
July 3: Sing 2
August 12: Cruella
West Des Moines
Moonlit Movies
Join West Des Moines Parks and Rec on Fridays in June and July for a FREE outdoor movie series. Beginning an hour prior to the movie, enjoy activities related to the show and grab a bite to eat from a food truck. Movies will begin at sunset.
June 3: Soul
June 10: The Princess Bride
July 22: Elf
July 29: Up
August 5: Field of Dreams
August 12: Moana
August 19: Space Jam: A New Legacy
Windsor Heights
Movies in the Park
Movies in the Park returns for 2022. The movies are FREE to watch and will be shown in Colby Park at dusk. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the show! If the event needs to be canceled or moved indoors due to weather, a decision will be made on the event day by 2:00 pm and will be announced on the City’s facebook page.
May 6: Back to the Future
June 3: The Lorax
August 5: Field of Dreams
September 2: Encanto
October 7: Hocus Pocus
Did we miss your favorite summer outdoor movie series in Des Moines? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list!
Featured photo source City of Windsor Heights.
