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Among the plethora of activities available in Baltimore, Maryland during the summertime are the outdoor movie nights held in neighborhoods around the city. Fells Point holds their Films on the Pier out on Broadway Pier providing moviegoers with the additional bonus of enjoying the waterfront while attending the show.
Contents
1. What is Films on the Pier?2. Tips to Enjoy Your Films on the Pier Experience
3. What to Bring to Films on the Pier
What is Films on the Pier?
The outdoor summer film series is held throughout July and August on Wednesday nights at between 8:30-9:00pm (times vary a bit due to changing sunset times). This event is weather pending of course, and attendees should keep an eye on the program’s Facebook page for updates, cancellations, and rescheduled movies. They’ll usually post by 3:00pm the day of the showing if it’s being cancelled.
Free to attend, the program is run 100% by volunteers and depends on sponsors for the majority of funding. Many of the sponsors are local businesses which offer prizes for the raffles held at each showing. The program is also part of the “Rhythm & Reels” programming by the Department of Recreation & Parks.
Tips to Enjoy your Films on the Pier Experience
Arrive early to pick your favored area of the pier from which to watch the film. For reference, I arrived 30 minutes before the show and had to sit fairly far back from the screen. They use a large screen to project the movies onto so I could definitely still see just fine, but I would have preferred to have been able to sit closer. Arriving early also gives you a better chance to find nearby street parking if you’re driving to Fells Point.
Choose your seating area wisely. The first time I went I didn’t pay much attention to where I set up my seat and ended up right next to one of the speakers set up along the edges of the pier. This meant I was slightly deafened by the audio while simultaneously finding it difficult to understand some of what was being said. Next time I’ll definitely be more selective about where I sit. Don’t worry about the streetlights along the pier though since they’ll turn them off during the showing.
What to Bring to Films on the Pier
Chairs
Most folks bring their own camp/folding chairs as the pier itself is brick and concrete. If you don’t have any chairs of your own, don’t worry. There are a limited number of chairs available for rent from the program, so arrive early to rent one of theirs.
Blanket or Sweater
Summer evenings in Baltimore are generally quite warm and balmy, but the breezes off the water could make for a chilly night since the event is held right on the waterfront. Better to be safe than sorry and bring along an extra layer so the only goosebumps you get are from the movie you’re watching.
Bug Spray
As with any evening activity outdoors, you will likely want to ward off mosquitos from attacking you. I didn’t have too many harassing us thanks to the nice breeze off the water, but I would still throw a bottle of insect repellent in my bag to be safe.
Picnic
Food is not provided or available from the program itself, so many attendees choose to bring dinner or snacks with them to enjoy before or during the movie showing. Many of the local restaurants offer takeout, so moviegoers are encouraged to patronize the sponsoring restaurants for dinner before the show. Do keep in mind that the event does not have a liquor license or an open container permit so you should keep your beverages to the soft variety.
Cash
Yes, the movies are 100% free to attend. However, if you want to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win the prizes provided by sponsors and support the program, then you should have some cash on hand. Also a good thing to bring if you want to rent chairs from the program or make a donation.
Enjoy!
Films on the Pier is a great way to enjoy a summer night in Baltimore either as a cheap date night or as a great group activity! I’ve enjoyed attending in the past and look forward to attending more in the future.
Hope to see you there!
If you’re looking for more budget friendly things to do, check out these 15 Free Things to do Anywhere You Travel!
Have you ever attended an outdoor movie?
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