Free Movies on the Lawn at Washington Park: The 2026 Summer Lineup

Washington Park’s free outdoor movie series returns to Over-the-Rhine this summer, running Tuesday nights on the civic lawn from late May through September. The lineup spans recent releases, cult classics, and family films — something Cincinnati families can dip into selectively or follow all season.

The park is at 1230 Elm St. in Cincinnati’s OTR neighborhood, about 10 minutes from downtown. Screenings start at 9 p.m. All events are free and open to the public, sponsored by First Financial Bank.

The 2026 Lineup

Fifteen Tuesday nights are scheduled between May 26 and September 1. Two films are still to be announced. The confirmed slate:

  • May 26 | Crazy Rich Asians
  • June 2 | White Chicks
  • June 9 | Karate Kid Legends
  • June 16 | The Fire Inside
  • June 23 | Death Becomes Her (with Cincinnati Pride)
  • June 30 | Cars
  • July 7 | How to Train Your Dragon (2025 live action)
  • July 14 | TBD
  • July 21 | Mrs. Doubtfire
  • July 28 | Jurassic Park: The Lost World
  • Aug. 4 | Naked Gun (2025)
  • Aug. 11 | Mortal Kombat (1995)
  • Aug. 18 | Superman (2025)
  • Aug. 25 | To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (with Midwestern Lesbian)
  • Sept. 1 | TBD

The mix is deliberately broad. The June 30 and July 7 dates are the clearest fits for younger kids; most of the rest skew toward older children, teens, and adults. The two Pride-partnered nights in June and August draw their own crowds and are worth knowing about if you’re planning around crowd size or atmosphere.

Good to Know

Washington Park’s civic lawn is flat, open grass — bring a blanket or low lawn chairs. The park has a playground and an interactive water feature that gives families with younger kids something to do in the hour or two before the 9 p.m. start. Food and drink are available at the park’s Porch bar and from nearby OTR restaurants. Outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are generally welcome in the park.

Parking is available in the Washington Park Garage directly beneath the park, with current availability posted on the park’s website. Street parking in OTR is limited on weekday evenings, so the garage is the practical option. The garage entrance is on 12th Street.

No registration or tickets are required. Show up, find a spot on the lawn, and settle in.

Plan Your Visit

Washington Park Cinema
1230 Elm St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Tuesdays, May 26 through Sept. 1, 2026
Screenings begin at 9 p.m.
Free admission
washingtonpark.org/series/cinema-26

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Midwest Parenting Publications published Cincinnati Parent for over 35 years and Dayton Parent for over 7 years. In 2021, the two merged to become Southwest Ohio Parent, expanding our reach into the growing Southwest Ohio market. At SW Ohio Parent, we proudly serve as the top parenting resource magazine and website for Cincinnati, Dayton, and the surrounding communities. Every day, we strive to deliver exactly what our readers need and are 100% dedicated to providing parents with the most trusted resources to find local events for every day of the week, community service organizations, and businesses that cater to the family market.

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