Valencia Provincial Council Summer Film Series

It's 46 screenings spread across 23 towns in the province of Valencia, and the season runs until 28 August. So the first question isn't which film you want — it's which night falls in the town nearest you. The Diputació publishes the screening-by-screening calendar on its official page, and it changes from week to week.

How an open-air summer screening works

The screen goes up outdoors and nothing starts until it's properly dark, which on the Valencian coast in late August is well after nine at night. Every screening is free. There are usually chairs, but they fill up, so locals bring a folding chair or a towel and sit behind. One thing worth knowing before you travel: films at these municipal screenings are normally shown in Spanish or Valencian, and subtitles in English are not the norm — check the programme if you need the original version.

What to bring

• Mosquito repellent. Near the sea and the rice marshes they arrive the moment the sun goes.
• Long sleeves — the late-night breeze cools things down even after a punishing day.
• Water and something to eat. Village kitchens often stop serving before the film ends, and there's no interval snack bar to count on.
• A mat or folding chair if you're bringing children, who end up lying down.

Getting there without a car

Several of the coastal towns have a Cercanías commuter station, but the outbound trip isn't the problem — the last train home is. Check it before you commit. If it doesn't work, treat it as a whole afternoon out instead: beach, dinner, film. There's more on reaching the towns without a car, and this is one of the plans that makes August workable at zero cost.