This summer’s Picnic Cinema has a range of experiences for film lovers from the afterlife to gangsters and outrageous rock stars.

The fun and games and fancy dress kicks off as usual with Uncle Monty’s Summer Soiree at Crow Crag and the annual screening of Withnail & I .

That’s followed by the Big Kahuna Party at Kirklinton Hall, Carlisle, featuring Pulp Fiction (18) on July 6 with Freddie’s Fabulous Fandango at Muncaster Castle and a screening of Bohemian Rhapsody on August 9 (sold out) and The Striped Pyjama Party at the castle with Beetlejuice the following night.

The events are hosted by a small dedicated crew, who run everything from car parking, assisting with tent troubles, giving out goody bags, adding the finishing touches to your fancy dress outfit, conducting mass participation games such as ‘extreme rock-paper-scissors’ and filming audience interviews which are then screened on the big screen before the main film.

Bryoney Cartlidge, project manager for the Picnic Cinema, said: “The events have more of a festival feel than a cinema.

“The whole night is curated, each detail from your arrival to the event, how you are greeted, the music on offer, and the goody bags has been thought about and tailored to the film or the location.

“The crew and the audience participation is what really sets Picnic Cinema apart.

“The whole experience is really sociable, when you leave you will almost forget you were there to watch a film as there are so many other elements packed into the night.

“The ethos is all about having fun, being able to enjoy yourself, meet different people and generally get into the spirit of the night.

n For more information and tickets visit www.picniccinema.co.uk