The Galileo: a movie night under the summer night sky!

Looking for a brilliantly romantic, that’s also super chilled out date night ideas? Then look no further than The Galileo Open air cinema! It took some doing (good babysitters are so rare!) with several attempts (thanks, super gale force winds), so we were pretty chuffed with our mom ‘n dad night out at the movies. But this wasn’t just any ol’ movie date; Hell’s no! It was spent in the great outdoors, on beautiful croquet lawns at the V&A Waterfront, under the summer night sky of stars, hubby and I all cozied up under blankets, with one of my fave movies on the big screen. (Back to the future,baby! Im such an 80’s child!)

This was genuinely one of our most awesome and relaxed date nights yet. All you do, depending on which option you bought, is pitch up, and enjoy.

The Galileo open air cinema is a pop up outdoor movie cinema that you can catch at Hillcrest Quarry, Kirstenbosch Gardens, the V&A Waterfront (where we went), and now also at various Cape Winelands. (Welcome, Stellies!) So your location options are growing and growing – no need to miss out anymore!

Years (Im talking yearrrrrs)ago, I saw they offered this at Grand central Park, in NY and waited with baited breath for it to hit our SA soils.(Because we do have such beautiful soils, dont we?) So I was doing happy dances when it finally landed here in Cape Town, and has just been growing from strength to strength year on year!

So how do you get in on the action? Buy your tickets of course! And you can do that online over here It’s pretty easy peasy online, although, if you want to chance it, you could buy on location. Just remember that the price differs at the door, and you are not guaranteed a ticket, as shows often sell out quickly.

Should you purchase your tickets on location (only if not sold out), prices are as follows: R80 for a ticket, R10 for blanket hire and R20 for chair hire.

However, online prices are looking like this (2015):

R70- standard entry
R79 – warm (Thats ticket with blanket)
R88 – comfy (Thats ticket with back rests)
R95 – warm and comfy (Thats ticket with blanket AND back rests) – I highly recommend this option!

But because my body feels older than it actually is, I decided to bring extra pillows with – which Im so glad I did.

If you’re anything like me, you need to munch while watching flicks, and at The Galileo locations, you wont be disappointed!
Yeah,sure you’re very welcome to pack in your very our picnic basket, complete with vino, but if you’re a)time-strapped and/or b)just in the mood for being spoilt with some convenience (Parents are most likely candidates for both a & b), then you are in for a treat! Not only do they stock the conventional and movie-must haves like freshly popped popcorn and coke, but also a delicious array of food vendors are there to tempt you! Everything from nachos to craft beer, you could turn your movie night into a mini gourmet experience. For the full list of available food and drink, have a look-see over here.

I went for the nachos, and it certainly did the trick. Even though I took the starter portion(very unlike me), it was large enough that it really could serve two if you’re just feeling peckish. (and need space for your popcorn & candy)

Just remember, however, all good things have to come to an end…and unfortnately this also applies to The Galileo. They are running until late April (see their movie lineup here), but dont wait until then to get cracking, trust me these summer days fly by so quickly! So do get yourself some of these tickets! And its not just ideal for date nights alone, they are also perfect for girlfriend hangouts, friend get-togthers, you name it! There was even a very cool little birthday party happening there, in fact! Its that cool!

What you need to know

Website: The Galileo Open Air Cinema
Information line: 071 471 8728

Their website is pretty comprehensive, helpful and easy to use!

What to wear
Just a tiny word of caution people: We may be in summer, but Cape Town, especially from December through January, the nights can get pretty unpredictable. So always go prepared. (They dont cancel for light drizzle). I had a tank, with light mid-sleeve sweater, and a pair of lightweight summer pants, with a leather jacket, and I was perfectly snug under my blankie. My ever-faithful scarf also came to the rescue to protect my neck and ears from the Cape Town wind that picked up later that night. So, like I said, go prepared, and popcorn it up!

Have you enjoyed outdoor movies this summer yet?What do you think?Any tips you’d like to share? Or maybe you’ve spotted other cool outdoor movie hotspots? Would love to know! Holler back in the comments area, if you feel chatty. x