Free Akron Outdoor Movies was first thought up by a couple of running buddies jogging through Glendale Cemetery. “Wouldn’t it be cool to show a movie here on a big screen, under the stars, free for everyone?” That was back in 2011, and the same group of friends has put on free, family-friendly movies in Glendale Cemetery and around Akron since 2012. The response from the community has been tremend
ous, and we’ve had crowds of hundreds of neighbors on blankets and chairs at our events. We also received immediate support from the City of Akron and other businesses and organizations over the years to offset the costs and keep the movies free, including The Knight Foundation, PNC Bank, Akron Digital Media Center, West Hill Neighborhood Organization, Sully's Rentals, and Premier Bank. In 2015, we received a generous grant from PNC Bank and were able to purchase the our first screen, projector and audio system, equipment that we had previously rented. We outgrew that first screen, and in 2018, the Knight Foundation generously provided the funds to purchase the 20' inflatable, rear projection screen screen we use today. We have fostered great partnerships with organizations and sites in Akron and beyond, including the Glendale Cemetery, the City of Akron Recreation & Parks, West Hill Neighborhood Organization, North Hill Better Block, International Institute of Akron, Akron Summit County Public Library, Highland Square PorchRokr, Summit County Metro Parks, Our Lady of the Elms High School, GroundWorks DanceTheater, Akron Parks Collaborative, and Summit County Historical Society. In addition to feature films and concessions, we’ve shown cartoon shorts, hosted open mic audience storytelling, offered activities for children, enjoyed live music, and hosted local food trucks. Here is a list of our past events:
9/15/2012: “It Happened One Night,” “Bugs Bunny’s Howl-oween Special,” Audience Storytelling, WHNO Concessions @ Glendale Cemetery
9/14/2013: “The Princess Bride,” Audience Storytelling, WHNO Concessions @ Glendale Cemetery
9/13/2014: “The Neverending Story,” Zach music performance, Food Vendors @ Glendale Cemetery
5/15/2015: “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” @ North Hill Better Block (Rained out)
6/26/2015: “The Good Lie,” World Refugee Day, Storytelling, Music, Food Vendors / International Institute of Akron @ Waters Park
7/25/2015: “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” A Thing Downtown, Live Music / Coffee Pot Cafe @ Akron Summit County Main Library
8/28/2015: “If You’re Not Dead, Play!!” / Highland Square Neighborhood Association @ Highland Square PorchRokr Festival
9/18/2015: “E. the Extra-Terrestrial,” Craft, Food Vendors @ Glendale Cemetery
10/17/2015: “The Goonies,” Another Thing Downtown, Nintendo Free Play, Costume Party / Coffee Pot Cafe @ Akron Summit County Main Library
8/19/2016: “More than a Game,” Concessions / Highland Square Neighborhood Association @ Highland Square PorchRokr Festival
9/17/2016: “The Wizard of Oz,” Tornado Craft, Food Vendors @ Glendale Cemetery
7/23/2017: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” Craft, Food Trucks / Summit County Metro Parks @ Goodyear Heights Metro Park
8/12/2017: “25 Hill,” Games, Photo Op w/ Soapbox Derby Cars, Food Trucks / Our Lady of the Elms / Highland Square Neighborhood Association @ The Elms School
9/9/2017: “The Muppet Movie,” Sock Puppet Craft, Food Trucks / Akron Community Foundation / City of Akron @ Glendale Cemetery
7/21/2018: “Singin’ in the Rain,” Craft, Food Trucks / Summit County Metro Parks @ Goodyear Heights Metro Park
9/8/2018: “The Karate Kid,” @ Glendale Cemetery (Rained out)
6/8/2019: “Babe,” Sheep herding demonstrations, Perkins Mansion House Tours, Concessions / Summit County Historical Society @ Perkins Stone Mansion
7/27/2019: “The Karate Kid,” Headband Craft, Martial Arts Demo, Concessions / Akron Parks Collaborative @ Chestnut Ridge Park
9/21/2019: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Alien Party, Mashed Potato Sculpture Craft, Rock Stacking, WHNO Concessions @ Glendale Cemetery
7/24/2021: “A Christmas Story,” Christmas in July, Christmas ornament and snowflake crafts, Mars and Benny Cookie Company Christmas Cookies, Stray Dog Food Truck @ Glendale Cemetery
9/11/2021: “The Sound of Music,” Sing-a-long, Puppet Craft, Mars and Benny Cookie Company, Stray Dog Food Truck @ Glendale Cemetery
9/10/2022: “Labyrinth,” Maze Craft, Mars and Benny Cookie Company, Stray Dog Food Truck / WHNO @ Glendale Cemetery
9/23/2023: "Back to the Future," with WHNO as part of WonderFest 2023 @ Glendale Cemetery
9/14/2024: “The Princess Bride,” with WHNO @ Oakdale Pocket Park
