Basalt Launches Free Outdoor Movie Series in Lion's Park

Aspen —The movie theater in Basalt is gone. The town’s answer? A projector, a library screen, and three free Friday nights in Lion’s Park.

That is the short version. No new brick-and-mortar building. No grand reopening ceremony. Just a town manager, a library, and the hope that people will actually show up.

Brent Compton, Basalt’s Public Arts and Community Events Manager, made no mistake about why this is happening. He pointed to the closure of the local movie theater and a flood of public comments demanding more options. "This year, after the movie theater closed, we noticed a need for it," Compton told the Aspen Times.

The plan is simple. Three family-friendly films will screen at Lion’s Park, located next to the town offices at 99 Midland Ave. The park opens at 7:30 p.m. on each date, and the movies start at sunset.

The lineup is set:

• Sept. 12: “Zootopia 2”
• Sept. 18: “Hoppers”
• Sept. 25: “Jurassic Park”

Read that again. Three movies. That is it for 2024.

Compton explained the limit. The town had a short turn-around time to get these events on the calendar. This month is a test run. If it works, the town commits to a full series of 10-12 movies next year. If it doesn’t, the projector goes back in a closet.

The logistics are handled by the Basalt Regional Library. Compton reached out to them after realizing they already owned a large screen, projector, and sound system. The library is lending that equipment to the town for the series. "A huge thank you to the library for partnering with the town on this movie series and for allowing us to use their setup!" Compton said.

Kris Mattera, CEO and President of the Basalt Chamber of Commerce, noted this is a first. The library has hosted outdoor movie nights before, but not during the summer and not on their own grounds. Mattera added a piece of local history: "Prior to the Library hosting Movie Nights, the Chamber had a summer movie night series from 2016-2018. We sold our equipment to the library in 2020."

So the gear is local. The venue is public. The cost to attendees is zero for admission.

The revenue model relies on concessions. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, sleeping bags, and picnics. The town will sell adult beverages, soda, and snacks starting at 7:30 p.m. Compton was blunt about the financial stakes. "If the community shows up and buys popcorn, beer, wine and snacks, then we will absolutely have the funding to do more in 2027."

Note the date. He said 2027, not next year. The town is betting on a slow build.

Compton wants input from the community before locking in next year’s schedule. He is asking for thoughts on spring or fall screenings, preferred start times, movie choices, and which parks in Basalt are best suited for the event.

The obvious take is that this is a quaint, low-stakes community effort. A nice touch for a small town. It’s not quite that simple. The local movie theater closed, leaving a hole in the cultural and social fabric of Basalt. This series is the first attempt to fill that hole without building a new facility. It’s a test of whether people will drive to 99 Midland Ave., sit on the grass, and spend money on beer when they can watch a movie for free.

The library has the gear. The town has the venue. The community has the choice.

If nobody buys popcorn, there is no 2027 series.