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Cinema under the stars

Now is a perfect time to get cozy and catch a flick outdoors with friends and family

by Kira Vermond

Costco member Dave Durbin set up a digital movie projector in autumn 2021. He borrowed a neighbor’s screen, lit two propane heaters to ward off the night’s chill and welcomed his teenage daughter’s friends into their Guelph, Ontario, backyard. The girls, with sleeping bags and mugs of hot chocolate, settled in to watch the original Ghostbusters outside. “It was almost like a drive-in in our backyard,” Durbin says. “And the nice thing about when it’s freezing cold: no bugs.”

A lack of pesky mosquitoes isn’t the only upside to hosting a backyard movie this time of year. Outdoor get-togethers are a safer way to connect with others during pandemic uncertainty. Besides, it gets dark early, so the party can wrap up before your booming movie soundtrack drives neighbors bonkers.

“It’s important to have events where people can just engage again, have a good time and create memories,” says Cristie Rosling, owner of Umbrella Events, a Vancouver, British Columbia–based event planning company. “You just have to go heavy on the blankets.”

From movie projectors and outdoor televisions to external speakers, blankets, mood lighting and snacks (lots of snacks), here’s what will make your backyard movie bash a night to remember, no matter the budget.

Set the stage

When it comes to throwing a memorable, starry cinema night, ambience is everything. Hang twinkly lights to give the night some glamour while providing enough illumination to avoid tripping on the way to the snack table. Or light the way with LED flameless candles that can be controlled remotely.

You’ll want your guests to be warm and comfortable. Providing cozy plush blankets is a good start. Have stacks of hand warmers at the ready, extra beanies and mittens, and propane heaters for extra comfort. In the Northwest, an event canopy to keep guests dry is a good idea.

On the technical side

If you think hosting movie nights will be an ongoing affair, consider a new outdoor television built to withstand the elements. Each TV comes wrapped in extra weatherproofing to repel rain, dust, dirt, snow, insects, ice and UV rays.

If you don’t want to commit to a permanent system, today’s outdoor projectors offer picture quality only dreamed of a few years ago, with ultra-high resolution and lumens, or brightness. Many allow you to stream content wirelessly using your smartphone, laptop or tablet; some have Netflix and other apps preloaded to stream directly from the projector. If you have a smaller yard, look for equipment that uses a short-throw lens so you can place the projector closer to your screen while still creating a 100-inch-plus picture.

Speaking of the screen, there are options. To get started, it’s perfectly acceptable to go the DIY route and hang a crisp white sheet, but a high-quality screen offers consistently good, wrinkle-free viewing. New screens are lightweight and fold up so they can be easily stored and brought out later. Or go big with a massive inflatable screen—an option if you want a big picture and don’t mind a little fan noise.

Listen up

Although projectors have built-in speakers, the sound often needs a boost, especially if people are not close to the source. A pair of wireless outdoor speakers will solve the problem, or have the moviegoers use Bluetooth headphones or earbuds.

Ultimately, autumn movie night is about sitting back, watching the show and enjoying time outdoors together before the deep freeze sets in. “After a couple of years having to stay inside so much and being isolated, it’s nice to have the option to be outside and see friends,” Rosling says. “That’s the ingredient for the perfect movie night.”

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Kira Vermond is an Ontario, Canada-based freelancer.

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Costco Connection: Costco warehouses and Costco.com carry outdoor TVs, projectors, snacks, beverages, camp chairs, outdoor furniture, blankets and almost anything else you’ll need to host an outdoor movie night.