As if summers in Atlanta weren’t packed enough with neighborhood festivals, concerts, and events every night of the week, city dwellers have also come to love outdoor movie screenings.
The biggest and best open-air film series is Screen on the Green (www.peachtreetv.com [1]), presented by Peachtree TV. Launched in 2000 in Piedmont Park, the festival relocated to Centennial Olympic Park in 2008 due to Georgia’s drought. Typically starting in late May and running for five or six weeks, the free Thursday-night series shows Hollywood favorites on a super-sized portable screen. Moviegoers can bring picnic baskets into the park, but glass containers, alcoholic beverages, pets, and umbrellas are prohibited.
The annual Flicks on Fifth film series (www.flickson5th.gatech.edu [2]), presented by Georgia Tech, takes place at Technology Square in Midtown, on 5th Street between Spring and Williams Streets. The free Wednesday-night screenings tend toward recent releases and draw a chatty college-age crowd. The series runs for six weeks in June and July. Guests can bring blankets and chairs, but coolers, pets, and umbrellas aren’t allowed.
The always entertaining Coca-Cola Film Festival at the Fox Theatre (www.foxtheatre.org [3]) also happens under the stars — albeit fake ones. (The historic movie palace’s enormous ceiling is painted to mimic a romantic night sky, complete with twinkling stars.) A beloved Atlanta summer tradition, the series features a pre-show sing-along with the Mighty Mo pipe organ and vintage cartoons.
The movies shown on the Fox’s gigantic screen vary from summer blockbusters to classics. The festival typically kicks off in July or August. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and tickets are $7. It’s perfect for folks who prefer their summer movies in the comfort of air conditioning.
Links:
[1] http://www.peachtreetv.com
[2] http://www.flickson5th.gatech.edu
[3] http://www.foxtheatre.org