The South Shore Drive-in wraps up its inaugural season with a fright.

A double bill of family favourite and vintage horror films will round out an eventful first year this Halloween weekend.

According to co-founder Catherine Croft, the response to the drive-in has been inspiring.

“Going through the park at night, listening to the grandparents sharing this with the grandkids and their stories and the laughter and the fun, that’s why we do it,” said Croft.

She said she and her team of dedicated volunteers saw a need during the COVID-19 pandemic to get people out of their homes and interacting with one another. After working to put on the movies week after week, they are delighted to see their efforts have paid off.

“It was a way for us to connect as families and safely. I couldn’t have competed with the theatres, nor do I want to. That’s not what our intention was,” said Croft. “It was giving a product to what we needed now.”

Croft said finally getting the drive-in up and running in a permanent home at the Hank Snow museum this September is the culmination of years of work by many people.

In particular, Croft said Charlotte White has been pursuing the idea for over a decade and worked tirelessly to help raise almost $12,000 for equipment and operating costs.

Croft said deciding which films to show each week is a challenge as team members have their preferences. She said she would often leave it up to the public to decide by polling them on social media.

But what she has learned is that people coming to the drive-in want to revel in the nostalgia of the experience.

“So we’re looking at the 90s. Great movies like Back to the Future, of course Jurassic Park, the Ghostbusters, these were iconic movies that seem to bring us back to a time and that’s what we focused on, was bringing that old feel back to the theatre,” said Croft.

Croft is pleased the partnership with the Hank Snow Society has been beneficial. The profits are split 50/50 and the groups are already planning upgrades for next year.

Croft said they’re looking at installing new power hook ups and a more permanent building for their projector as well as closing in the concession stand to protect their volunteers from the elements.

“This has been more than what any of us had ever expected it to be,” said Croft. “We’re just absolutely excited to bring on 2021.”

Croft said they have some special excitement and treats planned for their closing Halloween night, and she expects that depending on weather, the South Shore Drive-In will reopen during the May long weekend next year.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson