Outdoor Movie Family Night - Tips for Attending an Outdoor Movie

Monday night, for Family Night, we went to see Frozen at the Outdoor Movie sponsored by our city.  We participated in this event last year also and I blogged about it, here.

We grabbed some +McDonald's for dinner and ate it once we were at the park.  Everyone was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the start of the movie.

But at then end of the movie, not so much!

Again, here are my tips for attending an outdoor movie:

1.             don't forget to bring chairs for the adults.  adults really are more comfortable in a chair.  if you forget them, you will have to send your husband to get some which may or may not annoy him.

2.             don't allow your children to drink too much in the hours leading up to the movie.  take them to the bathroom once before you leave home and once right before the movie starts.

3.             do remember to pop your own popcorn at home and bring it with you and bring candy/other snacks if you think you'll want them.

4.             have the kids dress in pajamas for the movie.  it is so much easier when we got home late to just slip them right into bed.  

5.             bring more blankets than you think you'll want.  you can always leave them folded up in a bag if you don't want them, but if it gets a little chilly (or starts to sprinkle) you'll be glad you have them.

6.             bring an umbrella or rain ponchos, just in case.  You can leave them in the car and send someone to get them if you need it.

7.             bring a jacket for everyone, even those who say they don't want it.

8.             bring a couple of full water bottles, but limit the amount the kids drink, especially those who have to use the restroom often.

9.             set clear rules with your kids about their behavior.  this may seem weird, but i think it is necessary.  before we left home, we told the kids that we expected them to stay with our family and watch the movie.  we did sit next to some of their friends so that made it easier, but i was amazed at how many kids were just wandering around, chatting with their friends during the movie.  i did let the kids go and play before the movie started, but i told them as soon as the movie began that they were to come back and sit with us.

10.          expect that little ones are going to get tired and whiny.  it is way past their bedtime usually, so expect this. 

11.          if allowed, go an hour or so before the movie starts and set out your blanket and chairs.  

12.          don't be late.  seriously, is there anything worse than people walking in front of you, in the dark, searching for their blankets after the movie has started.

13.          if you are going to leave the movie early, do it quietly and quickly.  gather your items while you are still sitting!  only stand when you are ready to leave.  if you have folding chairs that need to be put into bags, just take the chair and the bag with you and once you get to your car (or at least behind the people watching the movie), put it in the bag.