Four classic musicals from over the last 80 years will be screened for free on a giant 40-foot screen at a Downtown Winnipeg park this month.

Downtown Winnipeg Biz is hosting Movies on Memorial each Tuesday night in August, and everyone is encouraged to join in the fun by showing up in full costume based on the musicals shown.

“We picked Hairspray, Footloose, Wizard of Oz, and Grease, and we thought we have some pre-movie activities, prizes, and of course, costumes,” explained Downtown Winnipeg Biz’s events manager Tricialynn Morgan. “For example, one of the beauty schools from downtown will be coming out to do up-dos for the crowd for the Hairspray night.

“I think it’s a great way to bring people downtown for an evening event that’s accessible and free.”

After running a single outdoor movie night at Memorial Park during the BIZ’s Manyfest last year—which attracted a crowd of more than 1,000 people—the organization decided to try a whole month of shows leading up to this year’s festival Sept. 7-9.

Concessions will be set up to provide something to munch on during the shows, and the audiences are encouraged to sing along and dance to their favourite numbers.

“The idea of coming down with your family, with a blanket and some lawn chairs and watching a movie on a giant screen outdoors is pretty cool,” said Morgan. “And sitting in the middle of Downtown Winnipeg at night with the Legislative Building on one side and the fountain on the other? It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Here’s the schedule of flicks set to be shown at Memorial Park each Tuesday night in August starting at 7 p.m.:

August 7: Hairspray

August 14: Footloose

August 21: Wizard of Oz

August 28: Grease