Movies in Parks is back.
Auckland Council is bringing 26 free movie events to parks near you this summer.
It’s been multiple summers since the first free screenings of box-office hits began in Auckland’s parks. This year, organisers say movie titles are bigger, star quality is shining brighter, pre-movie entertainment is more comprehensive, and the number of people turning up for an evening under the stars is predicted to exceed recent audience levels of over 30,000.
So, kick back and imagine hearing birds and leaves rustle in the trees, with the moon overhead, as you watch:
- E.T. phoning home at Woodall Park, Narrow Neck Beach
- Spiderman scaling crazy new heights at Māngere’s Centre Park
- Buzz Lightyear flying into Maungakiekie’s Fergusson Domain
- Simba, the loveable lion cub bounding into Ambury Farm
- Iconic waiata Poi E dialing up nostalgia at Coyle Park
Movies in Parks 2020 is also bringing Chris Hemsworth to the screen in MIB International, a young Drew Barrymore in E.T., Constance Wu in Crazy Rich Asians, Will Smith in Aladdin and Lily James in Yesterday.
Kiwi actors Rose McIver, George Mason and Kimbra will bring a soundtrack of classic Kiwi tunes and a bittersweet love story to the Hibiscus Coast in the movie Daffodils.
And the familiar voices of Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks and Ryan Reynolds, among others, will bring Secret Life of Pets 2, Toy Story 4 and Pokemon Detective Pikachu to life in Auckland parks.
Kaiya Irvine, Auckland Council Movies in Parks Event Manager, says: “Watching a movie in a park after the sun goes down is an iconic thing to do in Auckland each summer. It’s almost as classic as cricket on the beach.
“I love that it’s outdoors. Being out in nature is known to make people happy. It’s a lovely way for families to connect, as we spend so much indoor time on our screens. It’s so much fun for kids. There aren’t the same barriers or boundaries of a cinema. And for parents, it’s like being a kid again,” she says.
Sixteen of our local boards and one regional park have provided funding for Movies in Parks screenings in their communities, a great chance for locals to discover their local parks and have fun and relax with friends and whānau.
No bookings or tickets are required. Twenty of the 26 screenings are captioned for the Deaf community, food trucks will be on-site and Auckland Council will run a zero-waste system at all events.
The 2020 line-up for both Movies in Parks and Music in Parks will be live at moviesinparks.co.nz and musicinparks.co.nz on 28 November 2019.
Pop-Up Movies and Music in Parks – Friday 29 November 5pm-8pm
Auckland Council’s inaugural Pop-up Movies and Music in Parks event will take place in Aotea Square on Friday 29 November from 5pm-8pm with entertainment for all the family.
Aucklanders are invited to come along and groove to the sound of some of the acts headlining Music in Parks 2020 and view trailers of the free movies screening at 26 Movies in Parks events across Auckland this summer, starting 24 January 2020.
E.T. with the iconic bike will turn up for free photos, Sandy and Danny from Grease will be there with their best dance moves and kids will transform into their favourite movie characters with free face-painting.
This event is supported by Auckland Live.
Find out more on the OurAuckland event listing here.
