York's outdoor cinema: Grease, The Shining and Jurassic Park

York's outdoor cinema season is about to open, and the line-up is a proper mix of the singalong and the unsettling. The 2026 run takes place at the York Museum Gardens on Museum Street, and it stretches from 30 August to 1 October, so there's a good window to catch a film under the stars before the nights really close in.

The season opens with Grease, the 1978 musical that everyone knows by heart, showing on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September, both at 18:45. It's the obvious choice for a group night out, and the 105-minute runtime makes it an easy one to drop into. The mood shifts sharply on Sunday 13 September, when the bill turns to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, rated 15 for strong violence and language, and Jurassic Park, the PG adventure that's widely called one of the greatest blockbusters ever made. Both are listed for the same evening, so it's worth checking which one you're actually booking.

Tickets are reasonably priced across the board: £10.50 for adults, seniors and students, and £8.50 for children. The real bonus comes at the gate, where every ticket includes a £7 credit voucher towards food and drink, handed over as you arrive. You're welcome to bring your own picnic and snacks, though glass containers aren't allowed, and there's a bar on site doing alcoholic drinks, softs and the usual cinema fare like popcorn, nachos and hot dogs. One thing to flag: you can't bring your own alcohol in, and while the bar itself is cashless, some of the other vendors only take cash, so it's worth having a bit on you just in case.

Comfort is something to plan ahead for. Blankets, cushions and small picnic chairs are all fine, and camping-style chairs are permitted too, so you can bring whatever you're happiest sitting on for a couple of hours. A limited number of deck chairs are laid out on a first-come-first-served basis, and if you've forgotten something, ponchos and blankets are available to buy. Doors open at the advertised start time, but the films don't actually roll until dusk, roughly 20:30 to 21:00, so arriving early gives you time to claim your drink credit and pick a decent spot.

On the practical side, the venue has step-free access, though there are slopes and banks to navigate, and accessible toilets are available. Dogs are welcome as long as they're on a lead and under adult control. And because this is an outdoor event, the weather gets a say: heavy rain, high winds or thunderstorms can lead to cancellation, and the organisers reserve the right to stop a screening mid-way if the weather turns. If it does get called off, either before or during the film, you get a full refund.

For general enquiries, outdoors@picturehouses.co.uk is the one to use, and cityscreenyork@picturehouses.co.uk handles the specifics of the 2026 season. It's a low-key way to spend an evening in one of York's nicest spots, and with the credit voucher built in, it's easy to make a night of it.