Ten drive-in movie screens remain in Colorado, but the newest twist in outdoor entertainment is the walk-in movie.
Pioneered by Boulder Outdoor Cinema a decade ago, then expanded seven years ago to include live music at Red Rocks, the outdoor movie has become firmly cemented in the summer activities menu at towns all over the state.
And why not? Colorado seems the perfect place for movies alfresco. The air cools in the evenings and a little bug repellant will keep the flying critters away. The afternoon storms have usually passed by dark.
Features tend to be family-friendly – in most places, you will find nothing racier than PG-13. And you will meet the locals while you wait in line for a cold pop and some homemade cookies.
Cinema under the stars
If you’re traveling around the state this summer, check the local newspaper for outdoor film places and times. Here are some we like:
Watch a movie, watch for movie stars. That’s the attraction of free outdoor movies in Aspen Highlands’ Highlands Village every Tuesday starting June 27 with “Wedding Crashers” and ending Aug. 29 with “V for Vendetta.”
Before the show starts at 9 p.m., visitors can check out the Aspen Highlands Outdoor Market on Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m., then listen to live bands on the outdoor deck at Iguana’s restaurant until it’s time to set up lawn chairs on the grass. Another free movie
series happens Friday nights at the ski hill end of the Snowmass Village Mall, starting June 30 with “O Brother, Where Art Thou” and ending with a three-day movie marathon Aug. 25-27. Visit stayaspensnowmass.com/p-summer-activities-movies.php
At the other end of the glitz spectrum is the Friday Movies Under the Stars series in Glade Park, population 600 or thereabouts, 30 miles west of Grand Junction on the other side of Colorado National Monument. Sponsored by the Glade Park Volunteer Fire Department, the movies are free, but you can spend your money on raffle tickets, the Piñon Mesa 4-H Silent Auction (in August) or snacks, including $2 hamburgers and 75-cent sodas.
Movies Under the Stars runs every Friday (except June 30) until Aug. 25. Hayrides, live music, kids games and volleyball keep people occupied before the show. Food comes off the grill starting at 6 p.m., and the movie starts at dusk, projected against a wall. Bring something to sit on, a flashlight and a jacket.
On the bill in Glade Park: “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” July 7 and “Apollo 13” Aug. 11.
Closer to home, Longmont’s Outdoor Cinema runs Saturdays, from “Madagascar” July 15 to “Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit” Aug. 19. Activities start at 7 p.m. in the parking lot between Gold Key Travel and Old Firehouse Art Gallery. Visit longmontfilmfestival.org.
Film on the Rocks is back for its seventh season, combining live music with movies in the jaw-dropping gorgeousness of Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison. Don’t miss “Animal House” June 27, when the musical guest is the Denver Brass and hundreds of tuba and euphonium players, in town for a low brass convention. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 day of show, or buy a four-pack of tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Pepsi for four for $44. Visit redrocksonline.com.
The original outdoor cinema series in Boulder rolls on with lots of special events. It’s next to the Dushanbe Tea House at 1750 13th St., shows two movies every weekend until Aug. 26 and still allows people to bring “couches and other wacky seating.” Get the schedule and details at
boulderoutdoorcinema.com. Saturday is family night, screening flicks even grownups appreciate, such as “The Princess Bride” July 15. Friday features more adult fare, such as “A Fistful of Dollars” Aug. 4. Independent shorts are screened before each feature; the venue opens at 7:30 p.m.
Along with celebrating the modern era of outdoor movies, Boulder Outdoor Cinema organizers are giving a nod to the old, raising money to preserve the Holiday Drive-In Theatre sign on North Broadway.
Which brings us nicely to this: What if you really, really want to load the kids in the car and head to the drive-in, complete with hanging speakers and snack bar ads of dancing popcorn tubs? Our state has some great ones. Colorado’s largest, with capacity for 1,000 cars, is the Mesa Drive-In at 2650 Santa Fe Drive on the St. Charles Mesa outside of Pueblo. Open since 1950, the Mesa shows double features on three screens from May through October.
Four miles west of the traffic light in Buena Vista, the Comanche Drive-In has been showing movies in the high country since 1967. Look for it on U.S. 350 and watch the sun set over the Buffalo Peaks and Mount Princeton while you wait for the first-run feature.
Kelloff’s Best Western Movie Manor in Monte Vista offers a drive-in theater, the Star, right on the premises with sound piped into speakers in the ceiling of your room. The Star has been open from May to September since 1955, the motel since 1964. There is a fitness center, playground, driving range, many channels of cable and high-speed Internet, in case the movie is not to your liking.
Lisa Everitt is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Arvada.
The details
Kelloff’s Best Western Movie Manor Motor Inn, 2830 W. U.S. 160, Monte Vista, 719-852-5921, bestwesterncolorado.com/hotels/montevista/moviemanormotorinn/. Double rooms start at $66.24 per night. Restaurant, cocktail lounge; small pets allowed.
