Things are heating up outside, which makes a great excuse for an after-dark movie night! By the pool or on the lawn under the stars, outdoor movie nights are a great go-to summer event for just about any type of community. All you need to get started is a projector with a screen (you can rent these from a vendor or purchase these on Amazon), a place to watch, and a snack bar full of soda options and classic movie snacks (freshly popped popcorn is a must-have!)
Once you've got your bases covered, it's time to select a movie - but which movie to pick? When it comes to a perfect movie night, going with an epic theme that carries through the entire evening will kick this event up a notch from "fun" to "unforgettable." We've got you covered with our three family-friendly movie night themes (including menu inspiration!) that will wow your residents and create a core memory for your community.
1. The Super Mario Bros Movie
Level up your movie night with Mario and Luigi and transport your neighbors to the Mushroom Kingdom!
Ambiance: Create a show-stopping display with a Super Mario-themed balloon arch. Invite party-goers to show up dressed as their favorite character, with a prize for the crowd favorite. Decorate with the primary colors of blue, green, red, and yellow, with balloon bunches interspersed around your serving area.
Menu:
- Yoshi’s Veggie Platter: Assorted fresh vegetables arranged in the shape of Yoshi, served with ranch dip.
- Mario's Mushroom Pizza: Personal pizzas served with a variety of topping choices, including mushrooms, pepperoni, and plenty of cheese!
- Luigi's Green Pasta: Pesto pasta with broccoli florets.
- Power-Up Popcorn: Popcorn with colored candy-coated chocolates and a sprinkle of edible glitter.
- Princess Peach's Cupcakes: Vanilla cupcakes with pink frosting and a cherry on top.
- Super Star Cookies: Star-shaped sugar cookies with yellow icing and edible glitter.
- Tropical Fruit Skewers: Pineapple, mango, and kiwi on skewers.
- Hei Hei’s Chicken Nuggets: Homemade or store-bought chicken nuggets.
- Polynesian Sliders: Miniature sandwiches with pulled pork, pineapple slaw, and Hawaiian sweet rolls.
- Heart of Te Fiti Cupcakes: Green velvet cupcakes topped with swirls of green frosting and edible flower decorations.
- Hibiscus Iced Tea: A refreshing iced tea made from hibiscus flowers, served with lime slices.
- Blue Ocean Mocktail: A mix of blue Kool-Aid and soda water, garnished with a slice of starfruit.
- Benny’s Big League Nachos: A platter of nachos loaded with cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and salsa.
- Squints’ Soft Pretzels: Warm, soft pretzels served with mustard and cheese dip.
- Ballpark Hot Dog Station: Hot dogs fresh off the grill, served with a variety of classic toppings.
- Ice-Cold Watermelon Slices: Fresh watermelon slices to keep everyone cool and hydrated.
- Root Beer Floats: Classic root beer floats with vanilla ice cream.
- S'mores Station: Marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars with roasting sticks. (Make these over a community firepit or pre-purchase table-top campfires.)