Summer just got better for families in the San Fernando Valley. Following a successful first screening earlier this July, there is one last chance to catch a free movie night at the largest swimming pool in the United States, giving families an evening to swim, relax, and watch a film under the stars.
The event starts at 6 p.m., with the movie beginning at sunset. Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, swimsuits, and towels for a full evening by the water. The night includes food trucks, resource booths, and family-friendly activities, giving guests plenty to do before the film starts.
🌊 The largest pool in the country
What makes this plan so special isn’t just the movies, it’s the pool itself. Hansen Dam’s swim lagoon spans 1.5 acres, officially making it the largest public swimming pool in the entire United States. Rather than a traditional rectangular design, the lagoon uses a gradual, beach-style entry, giving it more of a resort feel than a typical neighborhood pool. From above, it looks less like a municipal facility and more like a lagoon dropped into the middle of the Valley.
The pool first opened in 1999 as the centerpiece of the broader Hansen Dam Recreation Area, a 40-acre water recreation complex. Beyond the swim lagoon, the site includes two giant waterslides, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas with barbecue pits, and shaded canopies available for rent. Right next door sits a separate 9-acre recreation lake, dedicated to fishing and non-motorized boating, complete with a half-mile walking path around the shoreline.
On a typical day, general pool admission costs just $4 for adults and $1 for children, making it one of the more affordable swim spots in Los Angeles. But on movie nights, families get all of that access completely free, along with the added bonus of a film under the stars.
🍿 What to expect before the show
While the first screening of the summer (Shark Tale on July 24) has already taken place, the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center is hosting one final free poolside movie night:
📽️ Movie: Lilo & Stitch — Thursday, August 7
📍 Location: Hansen Dam Aquatic Center, 10965 Dronfield Ave / 11798 Foothill Blvd, Lake View Terrace
🕕 Time: Gates open at 6 p.m., movie begins at sunset
💵 Cost: Free
🏊 What to Bring: Lawn chairs, blankets, swimsuits, and towels
