@hansendamaquatics.lacityparks via Instagram
Summer just got better for families in the San Fernando Valley. Two free movie nights are coming to the largest swimming pool in the United States, giving families a chance to swim, relax, and catch a film, all in one night.
Both events start at 6 p.m., with the movies beginning at sunset. Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, swimsuits, and towels for a full evening by the water. Each 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.
🎟️ Key details
The Hansen Dam Aquatic Center is hosting two free poolside movie nights this summer:
📽️ Shark Tale — Thursday, July 24
📽️ Lilo & Stitch — Thursday, August 7
📍 Location: 10965 Dronfield Ave
🕕 Time: Gates open at 6 p.m., movies begin at sunset
💵 Cost: Free
🏊 Bring: Lawn chairs, swimsuits, and towels