Ten Tips for a Groovy Drive-In Movie Night

Drive-in Movies are a yesteryear pastime that are making a big comeback, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I am one of those (maybe) strange people who doesn't enjoy the typical movie theatre experience. It’s not the movies, but the lack of social interaction that makes it blah for me. If I am going to leave the house with my people, I want to spend that time interacting. That’s why I love the drive-in; it’s not just a movie, it an event. A drive-in movie can easily start before dinner and extend late into the night. There is plenty of time to play games and talk and laugh, and there is nothing like piling all together on a stack of pillows and blankets to watch a movie under the stars. To really make it memorable, you have to stock up on the right gear for visiting the drive-in movie.

1.      Pillows, blankets, air mattress, and/or camping chairs. What you pick really depends on your drive-in style, but very few people actually sit in their car to watch the film. Camping chairs are an easy way to enjoy the movie, but an air mattress and some pillows thrown on the ground (or in the back of a truck) is the height of drive-in luxury.

2.      Flashlight. You’ll need it for any trips back and forth to the concession stand and for digging for snacks in the depths of the backseat. Just do your fellow moviegoers a favor and leave your spotlight at home. A small pin light will do the trick.

3.      Football, Bubbles, Horseshoes, and other outside games. Again, this all depends on your interests, but half of the fun of going to a drive-in is playing up front while you wait for the sun to set. Kids can start a game of pickup soccer or chase some bubbles. It’s all part of the fun.

4.      Trash Sack. There are usually plenty of barrels around the drive-in property, but they aren’t always nearby. An empty sack to collect your trash until the end of the evening is very convenient.

5.      Glow Bracelets. Glow in the dark jewelry is a fun and cheap way to play, but they also serve a safety purpose. Strap one onto your kids and they can easily be seen as the play in the dark, so there’s no need to be the mom hollering names into the blackness to round up the kids.

6.      Jackets or Spray Fans. If it is cool at all, be sure you have a jacket for when the sun goes down. Likewise, warm, sticky summer nights are a little nicer with a cooling fan.

7.      Umbrellas, too. Unless lightening is a part of the equation, most drive-ins will continue to operate in the rain. Be sure to be prepared with something to keep you dry.

8.      Portable Radio.  Almost all drive-ins run the sound through a radio station that you can tune in your car, but if you are sitting outside, it’s hard to hear. Take the sound with you with a portable radio. If you are really lucky, though, you’ll get to enjoy the sweet sound of the original static-y speakers.

9.      Bug Spray. It’s summer. You are outside. You know drill. Unfortunately, the mosquitos know the drill as well, so be prepared.

10.   Jumper Cables. There are always at least two or three cars whose battery just can’t take the pressure of a double feature. You can be the hero who’s prepared to jump off your fellow moviegoers, or if you happen to be the guy whose car won’t crank, at least you’ll be prepared. 

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