Sunset Cinema: Apollo 13

Apollo 13 on the Pier

Houston, we have a movie night. The Wharf's free Wednesday series screens Apollo 13 this week, the true story of the moon mission that went wrong and the engineers who improvised it home. The screen sits right on Transit Pier with the Washington Channel behind it, which somehow fits a movie about floating in a capsule. The film starts at 7:30pm and it's free, no tickets, no registration. A limited set of Adirondack chairs opens at 7pm, first come first served, and after that it's blankets and camp chairs.

This one is rated PG and it's a sweet spot for kids about 8 and up, especially any kid in a space phase. Real rockets, real problem solving, and a finale that has the whole pier holding its breath even though everyone knows how it ends. You can bring food from any Wharf restaurant onto the pier, dogs on a leash are welcome, and the breeze off the water makes it one of the coolest outdoor seats in the city in late July.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Come at 6:30, not 7:30. Chair handout is at 7pm and the good blanket spots go before the sun drops.
• ✓Prep the space facts. Kids get twice as much out of this one if they know the mission was real. One YouTube clip on the ride over does it.
• ✓Pack a light layer. The channel breeze cools the pier fast after sunset, even in July.
• ✓Burn energy first. The splash fountain at District Pier and the promenade swings are the pre-movie routine.
• ✓Make dinner part of it. Order takeout from a Wharf spot and eat on the pier while the pre-show crowd rolls in.