Ventura lights up its new outdoor cinema series Saturday, with organizers hoping to tap America's love for the movies and nostalgia for the drive-in.

The cult surf documentary "Endless Summer," created by Ventura County resident Bruce Brown, will be projected on a giant inflatable screen at dusk Saturday at Plaza Park downtown.

The free movie coincides with this weekend's Aloha Beach Festival at the Ventura Promenade and a classic car show at the park on Santa Clara Street before the screening.

Organizers say the city-sponsored "Starlight Cinema" series is an effort to give teens, young adults and families low-cost entertainment, build a sense of community and spotlight the city's diverse parks.

"Outdoor movies have become hugely popular," organizer Eric Wallner said, calling such open-air theaters the contemporary version of the drive-in.

He pointed to Washington, D.C., which offers residents an outdoor cinema series called "Screen on the Green." Open-air movies have also popped up in Santa Paula, Camarillo, Agoura Hills, Santa Barbara and Newport Beach.

At Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, more than 1,000 people gather twice a month on Saturday nights to view classic films.

"We wanted to do something for our underserved groups teens, 20s and 30s and we wanted to do something low-cost," said Wallner, a city cultural affairs supervisor.

"It's really about building community, enjoying our great weather and giving people an opportunity to bring food and relax in our great parks."

Movie-goers are encouraged to take family, neighbors and friends, along with warm clothing, blankets and picnics, he said.

Alcohol, pets, umbrellas and outdoor grilling are not allowed.

The movie will be projected onto a rented, inflatable screen some 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide, Wallner said.

Ventura's tie to the ocean and local surf scene made "Endless Summer" an easy choice for the inaugural film, although obtaining the rights to Brown's 1966 influential film took a little work.

"We had to get exclusive permission from him to use it," Wallner said.

"It's not available through the national distributors."

Up next in the film series will be "Grease" at Barranca Vista Park on Oct 6, followed by "Creature from the Black Lagoon" at Ventura Community Park on Oct. 27.

Classic cartoons and activities will precede each feature, beginning at dusk.