Where to catch an outdoor movie near Richmond Highway this summer

Movie night at the Liberty in Lorton.

While the Mt. Vernon Drive-In no longer is around to entertain Richmond Highway area residents on warm summer nights, several local businesses and establishments are featuring outdoor movie screenings for families.

At the northern end of the corridor, the Zelsman Powers Group realtors at Coldwell Banker are holding their third annual free “Summer Sunset Movie Nights” at the Mt. Vernon RECenter every Friday evening at 7 p.m. through the end of this month. Marvel movies are the theme. This Friday, the feature film will be “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” and the following two flicks are “Thor: Ragnarock” and “Black Panther.”

The Mt. Vernon Drive-In theatre once stood where Costco is in Hybla Valley. (Courtesy of Rivest666)

Families are encouraged to bring a blanket and dinner or snacks. No alcohol is permitted.

Further south — along the Potomac River near Fort Hunt Park — Cedar Knoll restaurant will hold its Cedar Knoll Summer Cinema this Thursday evening at 8 p.m., featuring a showing of “Stand By Me.” Admission is free. While no outside food or beverage is permitted, the restaurant will be selling movie-themed concessions and its full dinner menu until 9 p.m.

A staff member from the restaurant said they will be showing movies every Thursday evening this summer, with the exception of the third Thursday of each month. A full movie schedule will soon be available and posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Meanwhile, the Liberty — an urban village in the heart of Lorton — is screening its first movie of the season as part of its annual Outdoor Movie Nights on Saturday, June 16. Organizers suggest arriving with blankets or chairs at 7:30 p.m., and the movie will begin when it gets dark.

Kung Fu Panda 3 will be the first screening, and the second movie — The Sandlot — will take place on Saturday, July 14. Movies will take place on Liberty Green, the former baseball field located on Central Green Street. Food trucks will be available. Organizers suggest parking at Giles Run Meadow Park at 8400 Lorton Road (see map) and walking to the ball field from there.