Summer is in full swing and it’s time to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and long summer days and nights. What better way to enjoy the summertime than by hosting outdoor movie nights in the backyard?  Opening your Bi-Fold, Multi-Slide, Lift and Slide, and French Swing Patio Doors and setting up an outdoor movie night is an easy and fun activity that the whole family can enjoy! Keep reading to learn how to throw the best cozy backyard movie night for your friends and family this summer.

Now first things first, you can’t have a movie night without the proper equipment. You’ll need a large outdoor movie screen like this one from Target. It’s a 12.5-foot screen and it self-inflates, making setup incredibly easy! You will also need a projector and sound system—a Bluetooth speaker will suffice as long as you have a Bluetooth transmitter to connect to the projector (or laptop if you will be using it to stream a movie from Netflix)! Though the equipment necessary for outdoor movies requires a small investment, this setup can be used for many purposes in addition to movie nights: you can take it on camping trips for evening entertainment and you can use it for birthday parties and other events! The investment is worth it, and you will enjoy the benefits for a long time.

Now that you have the proper gear for movie projecting, you can start planning the event. You will need plenty of blankets, pillows, and comfy chairs for people to lounge in. Bring out some old blankets and pillows that you won’t mind having on the ground. Move your comfy patio furniture to the viewing area for additional seating. Sitting on the ground with no support can be hard on your back, so have extra chairs on hand for anyone who needs one.

We’ve come to the most important item on your outdoor movie night checklist: snacks! Popcorn is essential for any movie night, so be sure to have plenty of it! Having a variety of snacks is great and don’t hesitate to include some real food because people will get hungry for non-snack items. Burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs are perfect and easy for non-snack foods to serve when your guests get hungry. Don’t forget to provide water and drinks for your guests—they will surely be thirsty after all that salt and sugar! Set up the snack bar on a nearby table or the bar counter of your Bi-Fold Passthrough Window for easy access throughout the night.

You now have the perfect setup for a movie night under the stars! Invite your friends and family and pick a movie to debut at your home theater. If you have neighbors nearby, be considerate about noise, or better yet, invite them over to join in the festivities. Once you use your outdoor theater setup, you’ll never want to go back to watching movies on a screen indoors because outdoor theaters take your viewing experience to a whole new level of entertainment! Have fun and enjoy your movie night!