It’s time to mark your calendars! The Ann Arbor Top of the Park Movie Lineup for 2024 was just announced.
My family loves attending Top of the Park, particularly when we can meet up with friends. My daughter and I particularly enjoy seeing the movies. On the other hand, my husband doesn’t like the late hour of the movies since he has to work the next day.
Top of the Park 2024 will run from June 14-June 30 Tuesdays-Sundays. Movies are shown Tuesdays-Thursdays and the final Sunday. Note: Top of the Park continues to only be 2 weeks as it was last year instead of the traditional 3.
About the 2024 Top of the Park Movies by Moonlight Series
Movies by Moonlight are shown on a screen in front of UM’s Rackham Auditroium with seating on Washington St, and the Ingalls Mall.
This year sees a continuation of the shortened season of Top of the Park at 2 weeks instead of 3 weeks. For 2024, Ann Arbor Summer Festival starts on June 14 and ends on June 30. For families, I am glad that Top of the Park doesn’t start until school is over.
Additionally, the Movies by Moonlight Series is also scaled back with one less movie each week. Movies are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and the final Sunday. The weekday movies start at 9:30p to better accommodate families. Barbie on the last Sunday will start at the traditional 10p time.
The Movies by Moonlight series includes both recent films like Barbie and The Color Purple. It also includes 20th anniversary showings of Napoleon Dynamite and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
We love attending Top of the Park. On nights that we plan to see the movie, we typically have dinner at home and arrive around 9p. Even if we don’t stay for the entire movie, my daughter enjoys watching part of the movie. Since we have many of these movies accessible via streaming or DVD for the older movies, we’ll continue watching the movie the next day.
I’m hoping we can attend a few Top of the Park events this year as a family. We’ll just have to juggle my teen’s social life and job. Or make it a date night.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ann Arbor Summer Festival Movies
What time do the movies start?
This year they are moving the start time up until 9:30p except for Barbie which will still be at the traditional 10p start time.
Any tips for my kids to stay up late?
I suggest choosing a shorter movie. For example Napoleon Dynamite is 1hr 26 minutes vs The Color Purple at 2hr 21minutes, That extra hour make a big difference. It took several tries for my daughter to make it through a Top of the Park movies. We would try to rest the afternoon before, but I have not been able to get my daughter to actually take a nap since kindergarten. She is naturally a night owl and would typically be up until 10:30p anyway.
Should I have a Backup Plan?
Yes! Be prepared that some of your family may want to leave early. The first time my daughter tried a Top of the Park movie was a Harry Potter movie. We brought two cars because my husband only planned to stay until 11:30, my daughter gave up about 20 minutes after him. We were sitting with friends, and half their family gave up and got a ride home with us. As a consolation, the next afternoon we reunited to watch the rest of the movie. This made it easier for our girls to leave. I definitely suggest trying with a movie they can finish watching at home via streaming or DVD.
What should we bring?
Seating. There are usually folding chairs setup in front of the screen, but they are not very comfortable for an entire movie. We usually bring a blanket and some chairs and setup off to the side in the grassy areas. If using chairs we try to setup so we don’t block people behind us – setting up near trees or towards the back. If you have blankets, consider some cushioning like pillows or rolled blankets. Warm apparel. Summer nights in Ann Arbor can get chilly. It isn’t a bad idea to bring sweatshirts or hoodies. If you don’t need to wear it, it can be used as a pillow.
Are bugs an issue at Top of the Park?
It seems like everywhere we go on summer evenings, bugs are an issue. We have never had an issue with mosquitos at Top of the Park. We usually prepare by bringing some bug spray and ThermaCell lanterns, but never use them.
Can I bring snacks?
You can bring your own snacks, but Ann Arbor Summer Festival encourages you to buy snacks at Culinary Row. These stands help to support the free programming. The Festival tent usually has popcorn, sno-cones, and water/sodas. There is usually ice cream and coffee beverages available on Culinary Row.
More Top of the Park Events
Our Top of the Park Kids Guide will be updated for 2023 as new announcements are made. We are still waiting on announcements of Culinary Row participants, any additional main stage shows. Kids Zone, Retreat, Spectacles, and other activities.
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