Where to Watch Outdoor Movies With Your Family in Des Moines

Summer is here and if you’re looking to get outdoors wih your famly and watch a great film at the same time, a drive-in or outdoor movie can be a great place. If you prefer to watch movies from your car or while sitting outside as a family, Here is where you can catch drive-in movies in the Des Moines metro and central Iowa.

Outdoor Movies in Des MoinesImage courtesy of Deposit Photos

Ankeny Movies Under the Stars
Ankeny is hosting outdoor movies on Friday nights this summer during June and July. Located in the Band Shell in Wagner Park which is located at 410 W. 1st Street in Ankeny, the movies start at dusk and are free to attend. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for family seating. Upcoming movies include Sonic, Home, Angry Birds, Spiderman, Wonder Park, Trolls World Tour and Onward.

Clive Parks and Recreation Summer Drive-In Movies

Did you know that you’ll be able to catch movies outdoors in Clive this summer?

• Clive Sunday Night Drive In - Clive Parks and Recreation will be hosting drive-in movie nights on Sunday nights at the Clive Aquatic Center parking lot. All movies are rated either G and PG and include Despicable Me 2, The Lorax, The House with a Clock in its Wall and How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World. Cost to attend is $10 per vehicle and registration is required. Find out more, check out upcoming shows and register here.
• Clive Friday Flicks
  Later this summer, Clive Parks and Recreation will host several movie nights on Friday evenings at the Clive Aquatic Center Greenbelt Landing. Movies will be shown outdoors in circled spaces for each family or group. Upcoming films include Trolls, The Secret Life of Pets 2, The Grinch and Wonder.

Des Moines Free Flicks
The City of Des Moines will be hosting a Free Flicks summer outdoor movie series that will be shown on a portable movie screen at different locations around Des Moines. Films will begin at sunset around 9 p.m. and admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets and snacks. Events will not be held in the event of rain.

Upcoming shows include: Sonic the Hedgehog, Abominable, Trolls World Tour, and Arctic Dogs. For more information and film locations visit the Des Moines Parks and Recreation website.

Granger Movies in the Park
Granger’s Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting free outdoor movies in Centennial Park this summer on a portable screen. Films begin at sunset and admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, blankets and snacks. Upcoming films include: Jumanji The Next Level and Croods 2. Learn more details here.

Indianola Starlight Cinema Outdoor Movies
Indianola will be helping families make movie memories on Friday evenings this summer by showing free family friendly movies in the Memorial Park Amphitheater. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and concessions will be available to purchase. Films include: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Playing with Fire, Croods 3: A New Age, and The Goonies.

Showtimes for this event do change monthly, so visit their website for current details for each event.

Newton Valle Drive-in
One of only five remaining drive-in movie theaters in the state, the Valle is the oldest remaining Drive-In movie theater in Iowa. It opened in 1948 and the teasers shown at the beginning of the movies are from when it originally opened. The neon Valle sign, snack shack and popcorn maker are also authentic from when the theater opened.

Reservations for the Valle Drive-in are now required and can be made in advance online. The Valle Drive-In is located at 4074 Hwy F48 in Newton, Iowa 50208. For more information and to see upcoming features, visit www.valledrive-in.com or call 641-792-3558.

Waukee Movies in the Park

The City of Waukee will be hosting outdoor movies monthly at Centennial Park in Waukee. Movies start at 8:45 p.m. and attendees will want to bring their lawn chairs and blankets with them. Upcoming movies include Aladdin, Jumanji: The Next Level and Black Panther. For the schedule and more details, visit their website.

West Des Moines Moonlit Movies
Families can join West Des Moines Parks and Recreation on Friday nights in June and July for a free outdoor film series. Movies begin at sunset and special activities will begin an hour before showtime. Food trucks will also be available. Upcoming films include Toy Story 4, The Princess and the Frog, The Karate Kid, Goonies, Coco and Mary Poppins Returns. For more information and the complete schedule visit their website.

Windsor Heights Movies in the Park
The popular Windsor Heights Movies in the park series is returning in 2021 with free movies being shown in Colby Park at dusk. Announced movies so far include Moana. Check their Facebook page for more details and upcoming events.

These outdoor movies around the Des Moines Iowa metro are sure to provide your family with lots of outdoor fun all summer long. Know of an event I missed? Leave it in the comments below!

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