Summer in the City Returns to the Palace Theatre with Eight Free Movie Events
Annual series serves thousands from surrounding neighborhoods each year
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Palace Theatre’s annual Broadview Summer in the City Free Movie Series, presented by Fidelis Care returns this July & August with eight free, family-friendly movie events! The series has been a Downtown Albany summer staple for over a decade and provides children with the opportunity to enjoy the excitement and beauty of the historic Palace Theatre while offering fun, safe, and positive opportunities to become engaged in the arts. Summer in the City is part of the Palace Theatre’s Community Engagement Initiative and is one of several free and low-cost arts and educational programs offered by the Palace that positively impact local children and families each year. Last year, the Summer in the City movie series brought over 6,000 people to Downtown Albany in July and August for free family fun.
For each event, doors will open at Noon for an hour of crafts & activities coordinated by the Palace Theatre and their partners. Craft and learn about local history with Ten Broeck Mansion, and get your photo taken with Rapunzel at Tangled. Learn how to assemble LEGO creations with Bring On The Spectrum, enjoy traditional Irish music with Toss the Feathers and more! Movies begin at 1 p.m.
Free popcorn is provided to all children 12 and under. For the Summer in the City finale on Tuesday, August 26 - immediately following the screening of The SpongeBob Movie – guests will be treated to Free Ice Cream courtesy of Stewart's Shops.
Everyone who attends a Summer in the City movie is automatically entered into our weekly giveaways including ride passes & movie tickets courtesy of Huck Finn's Playland and Scene One Spectrum 8 Theatres, Gift Cards, tickets to Palace Theatre events and more!
“Summer in the City at The Palace is a special tradition that provides cost-effective entertainment options and creates lasting memories for those in our community,” said Broadview CEO Michael Castellana. “The Palace is an Albany institution, and Broadview is proud to once again support the effort to bring people into the Theatre to enjoy free, family-friendly movies in this historic local landmark.”
"Summer in the City is the Palace Theatre's gift to the region! Thanks to Broadview Federal Credit Union, Fidelis Care, Market 32/Price Chopper, Stewart's Shops, Lamar Advertising and the overwhelming support from all of our other community engagement partners, we look forward to welcoming thousands of our neighbors and friends for these family-friendly movies and activities," said Palace Theatre Executive Director Kevin Johnson. "SITC is one of the pillars of our Community Engagement Initiative that allows us to be more than just an entertainment venue, but also a community resource.”
2026 SUMMER IN THE CITY SCHEDULE
For all events, doors open at Noon for activities; movies begin at 1:00 p.m.
Tue, July 7 Zootopia 2
Tue, July 14 Lilo & Stitch
Tue, July 21 Dog Man
Wed, July 29 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Tue, Aug. 4 Tangled
Tue, Aug. 11 How to Train Your Dragon
Tue, Aug. 18 The Lego Movie
Wed, Aug. 26 The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
Free tickets are available in advance at the Palace Theatre Box Office at 19 Clinton Ave. in Albany during regular business hours or reserved online HERE. Individual Groups, Day Cares, and organizations looking to reserve a block of tickets can call 518.465.3335, ext. 127 or email [email protected]. For more information, call 518.465.4663 or visit www.palacealbany.org
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About the Palace Theatre
The Palace has been Albany’s iconic downtown landmark for the past eight decades, bringing the biggest names in entertainment to the Capital Region. The history and programming of the Palace is a unique and often untold story with roots dating back to the period of the Great Depression. The Palace Theatre, built in 1931, originally presented vaudeville acts, feature films and became a civic auditorium before closing its doors in 1969. The theatre maintains its original beauty and design and is a historical landmark in the City of Albany. The Palace Performing Arts Center was established in 1984 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1989, created to operate the Palace Theatre. The mission of the Palace is to bring world-class arts and entertainment to New York’s Capital Region, greatly enhancing the area's cultural and economic development. Our mission is carried out through core programming and community initiatives that include performing arts entertainment, free arts education, family-friendly performances, free summer
movies and a classic movie program series. The Palace has a significant economic footprint with over $3.5 million in ticket sales and 150,000 patrons.
About Broadview Federal Credit Union
Broadview is among the largest Credit Unions in New York State with approximately $9 billion in assets, more than 500,000 members, and more than 60 branches in the Capital Region, Binghamton, Syracuse, and Buffalo. Broadview is a people-first financial institution dedicated to providing best in class products and serves our members, empowering our employees, and strengthening our communities through investments and volunteerism.