Tacoma’s Grand Cinema brings back summer outdoor film series. Here’s the lineup

Once again, Tacoma residents will have opportunities across the city to snack on popcorn while snug in lawn chairs and blankets at any of The Grand Cinema’s seven outdoor free film screenings this summer.

Grand Cinema began the series last year after receiving funds from the City of Tacoma’s Tacoma Creates initiative, which in 2021 allocated $4 million across organizations that committed to increasing access to arts, culture and science for low-income children. In light of the COVID pandemic shutting theaters down throughout much of 2020 and 2021, the nonprofit theater decided to use its share of funding for an outdoor movie screen with hopes of bringing free film screenings to venues across the city.

“The big focus was that we really wanted to reach different communities within Tacoma,” said Rachel Marecle, The Grand Cinema’s director of community development.

Last year’s screenings included events at Wright Park, Salishan Family Investment Center and Asia Pacific Cultural Center. This summer, Grand Cinema has scheduled films at each of those venues in addition to showings at People’s Park, Star Center, Center of Norpoint and Eastside Community Center.

Marecle remembers dozens of people coming to each screening last year, including a particularly chilly September screening at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center. Marketing director Ernest Jasmin expects even more to come out this year.

“[Last year] it was a new thing, things were still up in the air with the pandemic,” Jasmin said. “But I remember lots of great feedback. I especially remember at Salashan ... all the neighborhood kids ride up with their bikes. They’re all excited like, ‘What’s going on here?’”

Grand Cinema will kick off the screenings July 8 with the movie, “Boy.” The following two weekends will feature showings of “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” and “Selena”, respectively. Selena and the final four screenings, which will be announced later this summer, will be held in partnership with Metro Parks Tacoma.

According to Marecle, the theater tries to afford each venue as much input as possible about which films are shown. She said it is a way for the the theater to engage with people about films that really excite the neighborhood.

“More than anything, it’s about getting out to these communities that might not be able to get into downtown to watch a movie,” she said. “It will continue to grow every year.”

The Grand Cinema’s Outdoor Movies (Sponsored by Xfinity)

Movie, Date, and Location:

▪ “Boy,” Friday, July 8, Asia Pacific Cultural Center.

▪ “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” Friday, July 15, People’s Park.

▪ “Selena,” Saturday, July 23, Wright Park.

▪ TBD, Friday, July 29, Salishan Family Investment Center.

▪ TBD, Friday, August 5, Star Center.

▪ TBD, Friday, August 12, Center at Norpoint.

▪ TBD, Friday, August 19, Eastside Community Center.

All movies will begin around sundown. Check out The Grand Cinema’s website for updates.