We purchased a projector and screen set, popped some popcorn, and pulled out our air mattresses and blankets. It has since become one of my favorite family traditions. As a matter of fact, we did a guest blog post for VTech Toys when the girls created their very own movie to screen for us. Check it out HERE.
Below you’ll find some ideas on how to setup your own outdoor movie space, and some helpful things I’ve learned as we’ve created these special memories. As always, thank you for using my affiliate links, thank you for your support, and affording me the ability to bring in income for our family through these links.
HOW TO GET SET UP:
THE PROJECTOR
Setting up your outdoor movie night is pretty simple and you can easily create a space that serves you and your family best. We snagged THIS inexpensive projector and screen set. My husband did quite a bit of research as we concluded that this option was the best for non-daily use for the price. The picture is great and setup is pretty simple. We also really loved that it came with a screen.
We hung ours with command hooks in front of the porch, but I have also seen people use their white garage doors or the side of the house as a screen. We connect the projector using our laptop, but it doesn’t have a variety of connection options for mobile devices, gaming systems, etc.
It also has an internal speaker, but I HIGHLY recommend getting a wireless speaker. We started with THIS one, and it changes the entire experience–much more like being at an actual theater.
SEATING
When it comes to seating, I suggest really getting creative with whatever you already have. We’ve used everything from air mattresses to lawn chairs. Our girls have even asked for us to put up our camping tent, and let them setup inside with blankets and stuffed animals to watch.
My husband Mark purchased an air lounger, and they LOVE that thing! It’s basically an air bean bag that you don’t have to inflate. It also stores flat and comes in a ton of colors. I think it is a great option for those who don’t have a ton of yard space.
SNACKS
You can’t have an outdoor movie night without snacks, right?? They may favorite part of the entire thing. We’ve roasted s’mores during the movie, charcuterie, and we’ve even made our own concession stand before. We all earned tickets throughout the days for chores and kind acts, and used those at our little stand.
The stand itself was one I used for laundry storage and you can snag it HERE. We have an almost identical one in our playroom for craft storage. We stocked the cart with mini popcorn boxes and concession style candy boxes. I cant recommend this enough–the kids got a kick out of it!
BUGS
I know when we lived in North Carolina, the mosquitos and flies could get intense on some Summer nights. I HIGHLY recommend snagging a few thermal bug repellers. We had two, and set them up right by our seating when we did movie nights. I have also heard amazing things about mosquito repellent stickers for the kids.
I hope this post has served to spark some fun ideas when it comes to making family memories in your own backyard! If you have any questions, I am happy to answer them in the question box below. Also, don’t forget to follow our family on Instagram for more memory making magic.
If you’re looking for some good summer movie inspo, download this FREE movie bucket list printable!
QUICK LINKS:
- Popcorn Maker HERE
- Projector and Screen Set HERE
- Bluetooth Speaker HERE
- Mini Popcorn Boxes HERE
- Family Popcorn Bowl HERE
- Air Mattress HERE
- Rocking Lawn Chairs HERE
- Air Lounger HERE
- Camping Tent HERE
- Concession Stand Cart HERE
- Concession Candy Boxes HERE
- Movie Tickets HERE
- Thermal Bug Repellers HERE
- Mosquito Stickers HERE
2 Responses
Can’t wait to set one of these up when our covered patio is finished!!
This seriously looks like the best night full of amazing memories! I love this idea so much!