Your Guide to the Best Summer Movie Events

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Now in its 11th year, beloved West Seattle Outdoor Movies is undergoing a few changes. While the first five movie showings will be held in its usual spot at the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse courtyard, expect to view the sixth at its brand-new, larger and permanent location: the Triangle Festival Street by the West Seattle YMCA. This year’s lineup begins on 7/16 with a screening of Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens and runs each Saturday until 8/20, showing movies including Skyfall and School of Rock. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., with pre-show fun (did someone say trivia!?) about an hour before the movie begins. Free. West Seattle, 4410 California Ave SW; wsmovies.org

Looking for something a little more…indoors? The EMP’s Campout Cinema offers an outdoor movie experience, complete with LED starlights, without the bugs or the grass stains. The lineup includes favorites like Sixteen Candles (June 24) and Lord of the Rings (July 8 and 10). With themed drinks, trivia, photo ops and giveaways, it’s a cool, quirky experience you’ll absolutely want to have. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for all ages, and at 7 p.m. for those 21 and over. $10-12. EMP Museum, Seattle Center; empmuseum.org

Inspired by their exhibit Mood Indigo: Textiles from Around the World, the Seattle Asian Art Museum is putting on a series full of blues music and indigo fabric. The series begins on July 15 with lively blues duo Son Jack Jr. & Michael Wilde, followed by a screening of the cerebral samurai film Goyokin. It continues on July 22 with nu-jazz and reggae fusion band Comfort Food and Rain the Color of Blue with a Little Red in It (Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai), a remake of Purple Rain set in Niger. It wraps up on July 29 with the soulful sounds of Seattle Alt-blues band The Jelly Rollers, followed by a screening of the 2010 western True Grit. Music begins at 8:15. Free. Seattle Asian Art Museum amphitheater. www.seattleartmuseum.org

After 24 years of projecting cult classics, Fremont Outdoor Cinema is moving to the South Lake Union Discovery Center (101 Westlake Ave. N), where it’s being rechristened Seattle Outdoor Cinema. The lineup at the new locale includes the annual “Dude Fest” screening of The Big Lebowski on 8/6, but you won’t want to miss the season’s bittersweet opening night on 7/16, when for the very last time, you can catch a flick (this time its Deadpool; ages 21+ only) in the Phinney Avenue N location. Gates open at 7 p.m. $5. Fremont, 3501 Phinney Ave. N; seattleoutdoormovies.com

What could be more Seattle than catching a flick on the lawn with the Space Needle in the background? The Movies at the Mural season runs every Saturday from 7/30−8/27, kicking off with a quote-along screening of The Princess Bride. Head over early to nab a good spot to perch your low-back chairs or picnic blanket and enjoy the view. 9 p.m. Free. Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle Center; seattlecenter.com

If you want your summer veg sessions to be just a little more educational, check out Science and a Movie, a recent collaboration between the Pacific Science Center and Central Cinema. Enjoy classics like Anaconda, with a pre- and post-screening discussion about the science behind the movies (bring on the snake facts!) with local scientists. Doors open 7 p.m. $11-13. Central Cinema, 1411 21 Avenue; pacificsciencecenter.org

What do you get when you add beer to the usual outdoor film series? Tons of fun. Moonlight Cinema at Redhook Brewery ups the game with special events such as a maple syrup chugging contest to wet your whistle before SuperTroopers, a brick breaking demo prior to Big Trouble in Little China, and a zombie burlesque show to kick off Zombieland. The freaky fun takes place every Thursday evening 7/7−8/25. Opens at 6 p.m. $5. Woodinville, 14300 NE 145th St.; redhook.com

Coming soon to a park or parking lot near you: more movies! Check the lineups online for Seattle Parks and Recreation Movies in the Park (downtownseattleparks.com), Skyway Outdoor Cinema (mywesthill.org), Bellevue Summer Outdoor Movies (bellevue.com), Movies at Marymoor Park and Movies at Magnuson Park (info for both: epiceap.com).