Watch out for dinosaurs at Elings Park next month when The Wild & Free Film Festival (WAFFF) returns with a prehistoric outdoor screening of “Jurassic Park” on a 50-foot screen on Friday, Oct, 16.
Presented by Santa Barbara Honda and Toyota of Santa Barbara, the movie event will include live music, food trucks, beer and wine, an all-ages costume contest, and an interactive Nonprofit Adventure Village.
Tickets are on sale at www.wildandfreefilm.org.
“This family-friendly event builds on WAFFF’s inaugural outdoor movie night in 2025, which welcomed over 350 people, and is part of the nonprofit festival’s effort to create accessible arts and cultural experiences that bring together film, community and the outdoors,” organizers said.
“Last year was such a great success, and we’re looking forward to growing the outdoor movie night into an event the community puts on its calendar every year,” said Gareth Kelly, WAFFF founder/executive director.
“We’re bringing in an enormous 50-foot screen this year, the largest outdoor screen ever used in Santa Barbara County, and we can’t wait to see how cool those dinosaurs look on it,” Kelly said.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; band plays at 6 p.m.; film at 7:45 p.m.
WAFFF’s Nonprofit Adventure Village brings together local nonprofit and community organizations to engage with attendees through interactive exhibits, activities, and information about their work throughout the region.
“We want this to become one of those events people look forward to every year,” Kelly said. “It’s a chance to get outside, bring your friends and family, enjoy great live music, food and drinks, and discover some of the amazing organizations working in our community.”
The October event serves as the opening celebration of Wild & Free’s second season, ahead of the main Wild & Free Film Festival, Nov. 6-8 in Goleta.
The festival will feature some 40 short and feature-length natural world-inspired films from around the world, along with visiting filmmakers, filmmaker conversations, special events, and free community programming.
The Wild and Free Film Festival is supported by presenting sponsors Santa Barbara Honda and Toyota of Santa Barbara, along with Yardi, the City of Goleta, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Elings Park, South Coast Chamber of Commerce, Visit Santa Barbara, Central Coast Community Energy, Teva, Volentine Family Foundation, The Eagle Inn, Visit Santa Barbara, and others.