When the sun sets, outdoor movies take the spotlight

Editor’s note: Vancouver Parks and Recreation has canceled the movies slated tonight in John Ball Park and Columbia Tech Center park due to forecasted heavy rain.

Connect with your local park for an evening with the silver screen. Bring a blanket, some lawn chairs, pack some snacks and hey, even a pillow or two. This summer there will be three chances to see Pixar’s popular “Inside Out,” two chances to see the latest “Star Wars” film, plus a couple of 1980s classics.

Vancouver Movies in the Parks is a series of movies that takes place in parks across the city of Vancouver every Friday. There will be themed premovie activities starting at 7 p.m., and the movies start at dusk. www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec

• July 8: “Inside Out,” rated PG, John Ball Park, West 23rd Street and Kauffman Avenue.

• July 15: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” rated PG-13, Marshall Park, 1015 E. McLoughlin Blvd. The Seattle Seahawks 12 Tour will be in attendance.

• July 22: “Tomorrowland,” rated PG, Fruit Valley Park, 3200 Fruit Valley Road.

• July 29: “Jurassic World,” rated PG-13, Parade Grounds at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

• Aug. 5: “Princess Bride” (1987), rated PG, Waterworks Park, East Fourth Plain Boulevard and Fort Vancouver Way.

• Aug. 12: “Goosebumps,” rated PG, Vancouver Landing on the Columbia River, 100 Columbia St.

In east Vancouver, the Columbia Tech Center Park, 17701 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., will host a series of movies every Friday in July. Premovie activities begin at 7 p.m., and the films start at dusk. www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec/page/columbia-tech-center-friday-night-movies

• July 8: “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981), rated PG.

• July 15: “Pan,” rated PG.

• July 22: “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” rated PG.

• July 29: “Inside Out,” rated PG.

Ridgefield

Ridgefield will screen movies in Davis Park, 315 N. Third Ave. Movies will begin at dusk with popcorn and refreshments provided. The event opens at 7:30 p.m. 360-887-3557 or www.ci.ridgefield.wa.us

• July 26: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” rated PG.

• Aug. 9: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” rated PG-13.

• Aug. 30: “Lilo & Stitch,” rated PG.

Camas

And in Camas, the ever busy Crown Park, 120 N.E. 17th Ave., will be used as an outdoor movie theater starting in August. There will be premovie entertainment and activities an hour before the movies start, with treats available for purchase. 360-834-5307 or www.cityofcamas.us/parks

• Aug. 5: 8:45 p.m. “The NeverEnding Story” (1984), rated PG

• Aug. 12: 8:30 p.m. “Wreck-It Ralph,” rated PG.

• Aug. 19: 8:30 p.m. “Inside Out,” rated PG.

• Aug. 26: 8:15 p.m. “Minions,” rated PG.

Portland

If you end up on the other side of the Columbia River, catch a series of classic kid adventures during Flicks on the Bricks. Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland will be transformed into a outdoor movie room, but bring your own pillows and chairs. Activities begin at 7 p.m. with music and entertainment, and the films start at dusk.

• July 22: “Big” (1988), rated PG.

• July 29: “Aladdin” (1992), rated G.

• Aug. 5: “The NeverEnding Story” (1984), rated PG.

• Aug. 12: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971), rated G.

• Aug. 19: “The Sandlot” (1993), rated PG.

Northwest Film Center hosts Top Down Rooftop Cinema, a movie night every Thursday atop Hotel deLuxe’s parking structure, Southwest 15th and Yamhill streets. The event includes music, food and local film shorts. “Doors” open at 7 p.m., and films start at dusk. Tickets are $10 to $12, $9 to $11 for students and seniors. www.nwfilm.org

• July 14: “Plan 9 From Outer Space” (1959), not rated.

• July 21: “Raising Arizona” (1987), rated PG-13.

• July 28: “She’s Gotta Have It (1986),” rated R.

• Aug. 4: “Key Largo” (1948), not rated.

• Aug. 11: “Attack the Block,” rated R.

• Aug. 18: “Hairspray” (1988), rated PG.

• Aug. 25: “True Stories” (1986), rated PG.

Go a little retro with a modern twist during the PDX Drive-In Movie Spectacular. Moviegoers can see classic films from their car, bike or lawn chair, with audio accessible via FM signal, along with outdoor speakers for bicyclists and pedestrians. The gates open at 6 p.m. at the Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive. There will be car club displays, activities, music, short films, food vendors and beer garden. Admission is $13 per car, and $5 for bicyclists and pedestrians. www.expocenter.org

• Aug. 24: “Twister” (1996), rated PG-13.

• Aug. 25: “Psycho” (1960), rated R.

• Aug. 26: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), rated PG.

• Aug. 27: “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977), rated PG.

• Aug. 28: “The Big Lebowski” (1998), rated R.