How to Host a Backyard Movie Night

Check the weather forecast as you plan your backyard movie night. Choose a day when the weather is clear and there’s very little chance of rain. In the afternoon, take some time to tidy your lawn and get the space ready for outdoor entertaining. Your tasks might include scooping up pet waste, clearing out large branches and debris or raking up leaves. If you need to mow the grass, plan to do this the day before so fresh clippings, pollen and other allergens aren’t in the air triggering your guests’ allergies.

Once the backyard is tidy, clear the space to make room for your cinema station. Remove items like garden gnomes, planters, portable fire pits, grills and the like. Also, make sure to check your yard for large rocks, sprinkler heads and other hidden trip hazards.

Don't forget to send your backyard movie night invitations. If you're hosting the movie night for a birthday party or other occasion, set up banners, balloons, streamers and other decorations.

Before your guests arrive. decide where you’d like to project the movie. A large, blank wall will work best. Lighter surfaces make for clearer projections. If you don’t have a clear space, hang a thick, beige or cream-colored canvas drop cloth against the siding of your home.

Inflatable movie screens are also available. Allow for plenty of time to blow them up before dark. Ideally, your screen will be ready before anyone arrives.

Set your projector on a flat surface. Test the positioning by playing a few minutes of the movie before guests arrive. Most projectors require an electrical outlet, so use an extension cord to route the power plug inside your home if there's no outdoor outlet available. For projectors that connect via WiFi, you may need to temporarily move your modem closer to your backyard movie theater to make sure the signal is strong enough. Some Bluetooth-enabled projectors can connect to wireless speakers for a surround sound experience.

You might consider doing a trial run a day or two before hosting a backyard movie night. Testing your outdoor projector screen, project and WiFi signal will help you troubleshoot and iron out any issues without guests around.

After the screen is ready, arrange your lounge chairs and patio furniture so everyone will be able to see the movie. You can also take this time to reposition the larger accessories, like patio heaters and fire pits, that you moved out of the way earlier. If the weather is cooler, turn on a patio heater or light the fire pit these on so everyone stays warm. Keep in mind that even during the summer, the temperature can drop throughout the evening.

Pile on the rugs, poufs, pillows and blankets. These extras add to the visual appeal of your space and offer more places to lounge, especially for kids and pets. Choose woven outdoor rugs and textiles that are made to withstand the elements and are still comfortable to lay on.

As you get your DIY outdoor movie theater ready, don't forget the concession options. A portable popcorn maker, a beverage station with everyone’s favorite drink options and a snack bar with chips and candy will keep the party going. Remember to also set out cloth napkins, hand sanitizer and a trash can to make cleaning up the snacks and drinks easier at the end of the night.

Finish setting the atmosphere by illuminating the yard with some outdoor string lights and hanging lanterns. Consider keeping bug spray on hand or addding lighting, like citronella candles and torches, to help keep the mosquitoes and other summer bugs at bay.