Asheville Parks & Recreation’s Free Movies in the Park

Asheville -- April 18, 2024: City of Asheville What to know about Asheville Parks & Recreation’s free Movies in the Park series starting May 10

Mountain families should mark their calendars for the return of Movies in the Park to Pack Square Park with a showing of Wonka on Friday, May 10. A beloved summer tradition produced by Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) and sponsored by Au Pair in America, the popular series showcases family favorites on a massive outdoor screen at no charge – creating the city’s largest outdoor movie experience in the heart of downtown.

Community members are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs to free viewings that begin after dusk on the second Friday of each month. The APR Rec n Roll Play Zone opens about an hour before showtime with games, music, and other activities for kids and teens, as well as themed giveaways while supplies last.

“Movies in the Park is one of the thousands of opportunities the Asheville Parks & Recreation team creates each year with the goal of bringing community members together through the unique power of shared experiences,” according to APR Director D. Tyrell McGirt. “This free program lets neighbors enjoy recent and classic blockbusters on the big screen with a spectacular backdrop – Asheville City Hall’s historic art deco exterior flanked by the rising mountains and a night sky full of stars. As Asheville’s town square, Pack Square Park’s central location allows community members to easily walk, bike, or ride to the show. We’re excited to offer this annual movie series for people who want to spend time together outdoors.”

Make a Plan

All movies begin after dusk in Pack Square Park on 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. Approximate showtimes listed below, but plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior.
Bring blankets and folding chairs for comfort.
APR Rec n Roll Play Zone activities start approximately an hour before showtime.
Bring money for treats from local vendors Kona Ice of Asheville and Kernel Mike’s World Famous Kettle Corn.
Food truck and food tent spaces available for vendors who sell more substantial food like pizza, sandwiches, and other entrees. Please contact Calvin Owens at cowens@ashevillenc.gov or (828) 747-1347 for more info.
Parking is free in marked spaces on city streets and in city-owned lots on Marjorie and Valley streets after 6pm, so there’s no need to feed the meter.
Pets, smoking, and alcohol prohibited.
Have fun! Dress up as your favorite characters, invite friends, and celebrate cool summer nights. Be sure to tag APR on Instagram and Facebook.
Outdoor events may be impacted by summer weather. Follow APR on Instagram and Facebook for cancellation announcements.

Asheville Parks & Recreation’s Movies in the Park 2024 Lineup

May 10, begins around 8:25pm: Wonka (PG for some violence, mild language, and thematic elements) – Based on the extraordinary character at the center of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, Wonka tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician, and chocolatemaker became the beloved Willy Wonka known today. Kids receive free 2 oz. bottles of bubbles while supplies last.
June 14, begins around 8:45pm: Barbie (PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language) – To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken. First 300 kids can snag free pink and black sunglasses with UV400 lenses providing 100% UVA and UVB protection.
July 12, begins around 8:45pm: Guardians of the Galaxy (PG-13 for some language and intense sci-fi action/violence) – Celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first movie in the trilogy! Brash space adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the quarry of relentless bounty hunters after stealing an orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain. To evade Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with four disparate misfits: trash-talking Rocket Raccoon, treelike-humanoid Groot, enigmatic fighter Gamora, and vengeance-driven Drax the Destroyer. The first 300 kids get free Recycling Raccoon coloring books.
August 9, begins around 8:25pm: Toy Story (G) – Enjoy a classic loved by parents and children for almost 30 years. Woody, a good-hearted cowboy doll, sees his position as Andy’s favorite toy jeopardized when his parents buy him Buzz Lightyear, an arrogant action figure who thinks he’s a real spaceman on a mission to return to his home planet. When Andy’s family moves to a new house, Woody and Buzz must escape the clutches of maladjusted neighbor Sid Phillips and reunite with their boy. Unique rubber duck toys that change color in water handed out to the first 150 kids.

Image Credit: WNCTimes