Drive-In Movies: They’re BACK!

Do you remember going to the drive-in movies? They were a big thing once…and they are coming back!

What can be more fun than pulling up in your car with your family, turning on the radio to the right station, and preparing to watch two movies…all from the comfort of your own car? What’s even better…you can bring blankets, babies, and adjust the volume to your desires!

Most drive ins also have concession stands, so you don’t even have to go hungry.

If you’re going to the movies in this new old method, there are a few things you might want to take with you:

  • Folding Chairs (Just in case you want to sit outside of your car.) Air loungers are good, too!
  • A Cooler With Drinks. Some theatres might charge if you bring your own food and drink, but it doesn’t hurt to have them! Coffee is good when it’s a double-show, especially since the second one might not even start until late night
  • Supper and You’re keeping awake until late so it’s everything about the carbs. You can’t turn out badly with popcorn, pretzels, and chips. Most theatres will not permit open flames of grills of any kind.
  • Extra Cash for Concessions
  • Plates, Napkins, Paper Cups
  • Cleaning Wipes and Hand Sanitizers
  • Portable Radios and Spare Batteries – you might want to watch from outside, after all!
  • Sports Stuff to Play With Before it Gets Dark – you want a decent spot, you need to come early. Think of it like tailgating at your favorite football team’s home game.
  • Bug Spray
  • Snuggie or Blankets. It may be Florida, but at night it might still get cold.
  • Rope to secure your trunk
  • Check your screen number for each movie! Your first and second film might be on different screens, after all.

Now that you know what to bring, here’s some places where you can go for a great Drive-In experience:

  • Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre – Lakeland:The Silver Moon has two screens usually showing first-run movies – with double features seven nights a week.
  • Ocala Drive-In, Ocala: Renovated and reopened in 2011, affordable with great movies (and the concession stand has rave reviews)
  • Joy-Lan Drive In & Swap Shop – Dade City: Shows first-run movies, and has in-car speakers available on some rows
  • Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre – Ruskin:Great movies, good food, 2000 square foot screen and open year round!
  • Swap Shop & Drive-In Theatre, Fort Lauderdale:14 screen drive in theatre that doubles as the largest drive-in and flea market in the world.
  • Lake Worth Swap Shop and Drive-In, Lake Worth: Down-to-earth flea market with 2,000+ vendors, a drive-in movie theater & a food court.