Nothing quite signals the start of summer in LA like heading to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for a picnic dinner and a movie. The screening calendar is out, and the cemetery is kicking things off this Saturday, May 15^th with the Wizard of Oz.

Going through mid-September and happening most Saturday or Sunday nights, the screenings have been known to sell out to crowds numbering the thousands. And it’s not hard to see why. Guests are able to bring blankets, lawn chairs, full picnic baskets, and wine through the cemetery gates. The spacious lawn offers viewers the chance to catch a flick under the stars and amongst some of Hollywood’s greatest deceased talents (including Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield, Rudolph Valentino, and Douglas Fairbanks). The cemetery screenings have expanded their clientele from hard-core film buffs to any and all looking for a uniquely LA experience.

Perhaps one of the better advantages to this is that local restaurants have started to catch on, providing fully prepped picnics to grab on the way. Joan’s on Third offers a wide selection with their summer picnic options, including poached salmon, caprese salad, and shrimp summer rolls for sharing. And on the Westside, Clementine offers three course meals, cheese plates, chocolate samplers, and their homemade marshmallow-topped hot cocoa.

Gates open at 7 p.m. and films start at 8:30 p.m. For the full and current schedule, click here.