Movies in Civic Square

Summer Cinema is a series of outdoor movies in Burnaby. Most of the events take place at Civic Square on select days in August and September. Admission is free.

Summer Cinema is just one of several events featuring free outdoor films in the Lower Mainland. Another is Sunset Cinema outside Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Wednesdays in August.

To learn about other free movie opportunities at other venues, see our article about Free Outdoor Movies. To learn about the free films at Civic Plaza in Burnaby, continue reading.

Summer Cinema Movies in Burnaby

Summer Cinema is a family-friendly set of events in Burnaby. The city’s movie nights take place at outdoor locations during the summer. Best of all, they’re all free, and no reservations are required. It’s recommended you bring your favourite snacks and something comfortable to sit on. Most people bring blankets or chairs.

In 2024, Summer Cinema ran on Fridays between August 2nd and 30th. The weekly events are usually at Civic Square located outside the Bob Prittie Burnaby Public Library at 6100 Willingdon Avenue.

This year, there was also one extra movie night at a different location. Continue reading for more information, including 2024’s full Summer Cinema schedule.

2024 Movies Schedule

In 2024 there were three Summer Cinema events at Civic Square. The movies at this location screened on Fridays and began at 8:15 pm. The full schedule is below.

August 16th, 2024 – Barbie
August 23rd, 2024 – Wonka
August 30th, 2024 – Sonic 2

The extra Summer Cinema screening in 2024 was on Friday, August 2nd. Unlike the other movies, this screening was at Confederation Park which is located at 250 Willingdon Avenue. This show also began at 8:15 pm.

August 2nd, 2024 – Mean Girls

Some of the movie characters from the four movies were in costume on the day of the individual screenings. Cinema goers were encouraged to come early, before the moving screenings, to meet them. You could meet and greet your favourite characters between 6:45 pm and 8:15 pm. You could also dress up in your favourite character’s costume if you wanted.

Tips & Advice

The following advice is good to know before you go to a Summer Cinema event.

TIP #1: For the movie nights at Civic Square, there’s usually free parking at the Bob Prittie Metrotown Library. It’s an underground parkade with a three-hour limit, which makes it perfect for Summer Cinema. Space, however, is limited (so go early if you want to find a spot).

TIP #2: The movie showings take place rain or shine. If the forecast calls for a cold or rainy day, be sure to bring jackets or umbrellas.

TIP #3: If you’d like to turn a movie night into a full day trip, there are other things to do in Burnaby while you’re there. Some free attractions include Burnaby Village and Central Park. There’s also lots of shopping to do at Metrotown. In 2023, Marvel Avengers Station was at the Amazing Brentwood Mall.

Other Information

For more information about Summer Cinema, visit the City of Burnaby‘s website.

To learn about similar events in other areas of Metro Vancouver, check out our article about Free Outdoor Summer Movies. For the same information organized by date, see our Free Outdoor Movies Calendar.

To learn more about the area, see our article about the City of Burnaby.

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