Fresh Air Cinema is a company that sets up giant outdoor movie screens around Vancouver so people can enjoy free outdoor films in the summer.
Some of Fresh Air Cinema’s most famous venues include Stanley Park Summer Cinema and Waterfront Cinema at Canada Place. Unfortunately, neither of these events is happening in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Fresh Air Cinema Movies in the Lower Mainland
Although most of its regular large-scale free movie events have been cancelled this year, a small number are still taking place. Captain Marvel and Back to the Future, for example, are showing in North Vancouver. Movies are also happening at Richmond’s Lansdowne Centre and at Surrey’s Cloverdale Rodeo fairgrounds. In all these cases, admission is free, although donations to local charities are greatly appreciated.
2020 Movies in North Vancouver
The two North Vancouver films happen at the Heywood Gravel Fields at 2105 Hamilton Avenue on July 31st and August 1st of the BC Day Long Weekend. Admission is by donation, with a minimum suggested amount of $30 per vehicle.
So these movies aren’t free, although participants are told to only donate what they can afford. 100% of the proceeds go to the Harvest Project which is a great North Shore charity that helps individuals and families in need.
For full details about the 2020 films in North Vancouver click Captain Marvel and Back to the Future.
2020 Outdoor Movies in Richmond
Lansdowne Centre is a shopping centre in Richmond where an outdoor drive-in-style theatre takes place most years. Despite COVID-19, some shows are still happening in 2020.
Three films take place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the BC Day Long Weekend. Captain Marvel is on July 31st, Onward shows on August 1st, and La La Land plays on August 2nd.
Similar to the movies in North Vancouver, the films at Lansdowne Centre are by donation with a suggested amount of $30 per carload. In this case though, 100% of proceeds benefit the Richmond Food Bank.
For details about the movies in Richmond see our article about Lansdowne Centre.
2020 Outdoor Movies in Surrey
Free outdoor films show in Surrey at the Cloverdale fairgrounds on July 17th and 18th. The movie Dolittle is on the Friday and Trolls World Tour is on the Saturday.
In both cases admission is by donation with funds raised going to the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation. For more details click Outdoor Movies in Surrey.
Other Outdoor Movie Venues
Fresh Air Cinema is also running outdoor movies in other communities around the province and Lower Mainland. In some cases the events are by donation. In other cases the events cost about $40 or so per carload.
Free Outdoor Movies in Typical Years
Most years there many free outdoor movie events around the Lower Mainland. Fresh Air Cinema is the company behind many of them including Waterfront Cinema at Canada Place, Downtown Vancouver Movie Night outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, and Sunset Cinema in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza. There is also Stanley Park Outdoor Cinema by Second Beach plus movies in North Vancouver, New Westminster, Surrey, Richmond, Squamish, Abbotsford and a few other places too.
Other Information
For a comprehensive list of free outdoor movie venues in a typical year click Vancouver Summer Outdoor Movies.
For a list of what’s showing in the Lower Mainland at cinemas throughout the year see our article about Vancouver Movies & Cinemas.
Unrelated to Fresh Air Cinema, there is also Twilight Drive-in which is the Lower Mainland’s only permanent drive-in theatre. Located in Langley, it doesn’t offer free films, but it is a real drive-in movie cinema.
If you like movies, another great attraction to check out is FlyOver Canada at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver. There you can enjoy a multi-dimensional flying experience as you soar across the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Lower Mainland Summer Activities
- Vancouver on a Budget
- Vancouver Shows & Entertainment
- Free Vancouver Summer Concerts
- Vancouver’s June, July and August Calendars
- Lower Mainland Festivals & Events
- Vancouver Drive-In Theatres
