Craft Tasting Room’s free movie night is the perfect way to spend a Friday

Budget entertainment coupled with Craft’s killer food and drink lineup makes for one pretty perfect little evening under the stars — or uh, streetlights. This is a city, after all.

If you’re new to Craft, it’s located at 1320 S. Church Street in the heart of South End’s Gold District not far from the Carson and Bland light rail stops.

Movies are projected onto a cool painted frame with seating available on Craft’s patio.

The show starts at sundown (which is around 8:30 p.m. in the summer), but you’ll want to get there early to snag a seat. Claim one of the picnic tables or bring your own blanket and chairs for the small patch of grass next to the patio.

Crucial to the success of any movie night is, of course, the snack situation.

And you won’t even have to smuggle any good stuff in like at the theater. Craft has you covered with fancy charcuterie plates, flatbread pizzas and Italian flatbread sandwiches called piadinas.

If classic movie candy is important to you, I’d recommend a stop at the nearby CVS on South Boulevard.

Craft’s movie selection is top notch.

The lineup features everything from cult classics like Jaws and The Birds to more recent favorites like Mean Girls, Clueless and Anchorman.

See the full 2017 movie schedule here.

Looking for more cheap and/or creative movie options in Charlotte?

Here are 4 more ideas…

Movies Under the Stars at Symphony Park – free family-friendly movies every Friday in August; music and family activities begin at 7 p.m., movie starts at dusk

Regal Summer Movie Express – $1 kid-friendly movies at 10 a.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday at participating Regal theaters

Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse – $1 kid-friendly movies at 10 a.m.every Monday from 6/12 – 8/14 (see full schedule for Cinemark Movies 10 in Matthews)

$5 Tuesdays at Studio Movie Grill – discount tickets and food specials at the EpiCentre

Header photo by @_sarahduffy_ via Instagram