Outdoors · Outings & day trips

Backyard movie night

Hang a sheet, set up a projector, and turn the backyard into an outdoor cinema with tickets and popcorn.

Ages 3–12best for 5–12
Half dayabout 1 hour of prep
Prepare days aheadplan below
Under $20about $15
Backyardon a dry day
Adult-ledlow mess

Plan it

Good planning makes a good day. Tick things off as you go.

1Days before

Borrow or buy a projector and test it at night.
Let the kids vote on the film.

2Day before

Make tickets and a snack menu.

3On the day

Hang the screen and test sound before dark.

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You'll need

From home

White sheet or wall
extension lead
bean bags or blankets
popcorn
speaker

To buy

Projector (buy or borrow)
mozzie repellent

🪄 Wizard's tip

Test the projector the night before. Fixing cables in the dark with three kids waiting is the fastest way to ruin it.

How to do it

Hang the sheet tight between two posts or on a wall.
Set up the projector and speaker and test before dark.
Lay out blankets and cushions.
Open the candy bar and start the film after sunset.

Younger kids: Pick a short film and an early start; have pyjamas on before it begins.

Older kids: Kids make tickets, a snack menu and posters, and run the 'candy bar'.

⚠ Safety Keep cables taped down. Use mozzie repellent at dusk.

Builds Planning & organisingCreativityTeamwork & cooperation

Clean-up 20 minutes.

Make it a bigger day Follow with a backyard camp-out on the same night.

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Backyard movie night