Warm summer evenings are the perfect time to watch a movie outdoors. What’s even better is the opportunity to invite your neighbours and have fun together. An outdoor movie night is the perfect way to create community connections without the pressure and stresses of formalities. Just sit back and enjoy the show.
Want to host an outdoor movie night at your local park this summer? The 2025 outdoor movie night application is now open. Londoners have until March 14, 2025, to apply.
2025 Outdoor Movie Night Application
Please note priority is given to applicants who are planning additional events or activities associated with their outdoor movie night such as community barbecues, street parties, or entertainment and games. The City of London has supports for neighbourhood events, including Event Equipment Lending. Visit our supports for neighbourhood events webpage for more details.
For more information, please email specialevents@london.ca or call 519-661-2489 ext. 7767.
Guidelines to host an outdoor movie night
Who can apply?
Applications are open to London residents and neighbourhood-based groups. Schools, school councils, faith-based organizations, places of worship, businesses or non-profit organizations cannot apply. Resident or groups can only apply for one outdoor movie night per year.
What do residents have to do?
Residents who host outdoor movie nights in their neighbourhood must:
- Choose a movie that has a public viewing license in Canada
- Promote the event in their neighbourhood such as using posters, flyers, and on social media. Our goal is for a minimum of 100 residents to attend
- Be present at the park throughout the setup, running of the movie and cleanup
What does the City of London do?
The City of London will:
- Reserve the park and provide insurance for the event
- Provide all the necessary equipment and staff, and set up and tear down the equipment
- Provide the movie (if released) and purchase the license to publicly show the movie
- Print a limited number of posters and flyers and provide them to the organizing resident to distribute
- Determine cancellation of an outdoor movie night, should there be inclement weather (rain dates are not guaranteed)
When do outdoor movie nights take place?
Outdoor movie nights take place from the third weekend in June to the third weekend in September. City staff begin setup by 7:00 p.m., and cleanup must be complete by 11:00 p.m. There are a limited number of movie nights each season based on availability of resources.
Where can an outdoor movie take place?
Outdoor movie nights can only take place in City of London parks and green spaces. Click here to checkout our Neighbourhood Parks.
What happens if there is rain or thunderstorms or high wind on the date and time of my outdoor movie night?
In the event of rain, thunderstorms or high wind, the outdoor movie night will be cancelled.
Other important information
The movie license companies control whether the movie requested is available for a license on a specific date.
Insurance coverage begins one hour prior to the movie beginning or when City staff arrive.