Library to Present 5th Annual Summer Movies on the Lawn
Enjoy Films from the National Film Registry During Live at the Library Evenings
The Library of Congress will host its fifth annual “Summer Movies on the Lawn” outdoor film festival this summer, starting July 7. The series of movies from the Library’s National Film Registry will be presented Thursday evenings at sundown on the southeast lawn of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building. Film screenings will include open captions. Music will be presented prior to each film, with live performances on July 7, July 21 and Aug. 4.
The scheduled films include:
- July 7: “Top Gun” (1986) (2015 National Film Registry)
- July 14: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971) (2014 National Film Registry)
- July 21: “Rocky” (1976) (2006 National Film Registry)
- July 28: “Mary Poppins” *singalong* (1964) (2013 National Film Registry) *CANCELED DUE TO RAIN*
- Aug. 4: “Wall-E” (2008) (2021 National Film Registry) *CANCELED DUE TO RAIN, RESCHEDULED FOR AUG. 11*
Films will start between sunset and sundown at approximately 8:15 p.m. Located on the corner of 2nd Street SE and Independence Avenue, the southeast lawn of the Thomas Jefferson Building is a scenic space to enjoy films on Capitol Hill. No tickets are required for the outdoor film screenings, but visitors are encouraged to arrive early as space is limited. Visitors must stay with their items on the lawn at all times.
The series is a feature of the new Library after hours experience, Live at the Library. From 5 – 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings, visitors are invited to enjoy happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase in the Great Hall overlooking the Capitol and the Thomas Jefferson Building’s beautiful architecture while immersing themselves in the Library’s exhibits, collections and programs. Free timed-entry passes for entrance to the Thomas Jefferson Building are required and can be reserved at loc.gov/visit. Find additional event details at loc.gov/live.
Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress names to the National Film Registry 25 motion pictures that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant, showcasing the range and diversity of America’s film heritage to encourage support for its preservation. The films must be at least ten years old. The Librarian makes the annual registry selections after conferring with members of the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) and a cadre of Library specialists. Thousands of public nominations are also considered. More information about the National Film Registry can be found at loc.gov/film/.
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
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Media Contact: Leah Knobel, lknobel@loc.gov
PR 22-049
06-02-2022
ISSN 0731-3527