CONNECTICUT, USA — As the weather slowly but surely gets warmer, it’s an exciting time to be outdoors. Two local drive-in movie theatres are preparing to capitalize on the buzz.
The Mansfield Drive-in Theatre & Marketplace has already opened for the season, and the Original Southington Drive-In is not far behind. Both venues hope to offer movie fans from Connecticut and beyond many fun memories this summer.
Mansfield Drive-In Theatre & Marketplace
Located along Route 32 in Mansfield at 228 Stafford Road, the Mansfield Drive-In Theatre has been operational during the warm weather months since 1954, according to its website. Featuring three screens, the outdoor theatre at the 40-acre complex always shows new releases and a family friendly movie and hosts signature events throughout the season.
The site is also home to the largest flea market in eastern Connecticut, attracting visitors from throughout the country.
Offering hot dogs, burgers, fries, soda, popcorn, candy, ice cream and more, the concession stand brings movie-goers back to the 1950s, the website says.
To make the movie experience more memorable, pets are allowed at the outdoor theatre – but not at the flea market.
As the calendar moves into May, the Mansfield drive-in theatre has already opened for the season.
On Friday, May 3, Screen 1 will show “The Fall Guy” (PG-13) at 8:15 p.m. and then “Monkey Man” (R) afterwards. That evening, Screen 2 will show “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” before playing “Tarot”. Both movies are rated PG-13. On Friday, Screen 3 will show “Abigail” (R) before transitioning to “Imaginary” (PG-13).
All throughout the summer, the Mansfield drive-in will show the same blockbuster movies that your favorite indoor theatre will show. The only difference is, in Mansfield, you can sit in the bed of your truck or the back of your SUV, wrap up in a blanket and enjoy your new favorite film in the great outdoors. The experience is tremendous.
To see showtimes in Mansfield, one can visit here.
The Original Southington Drive-In
Located at 995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike in Plantsville, a neighborhood in Southington, The Original Southington Drive-In joins Mansfield as one of only three remaining outdoor movie theaters in the state, according to its website.
The facility opened in 1955 and served as a for-profit business for nearly 50 years before closing in 2002. Two years later, Southington residents voted to purchase the property to expand the nearby Recreation Park and continue to hold outdoor events on the site.
In early 2010, a group of local volunteers called the “Southington Drive-In Committee” began reopening the drive-in theater. The committee now operates the drive-in independently of the town of Southington.
The drive-in theatre’s snack bar is run by the Southington High School DECA Club, and all proceeds benefit that organization. The drive-in is also supported by local advertisers, some who have been onboard since the reopening.
The drive-in theatre will open for the season on June 1 and will show a different classic movie every Saturday. On June 1, the theatre will show “Jaws” (PG) before showing “Minions: Rise of Gru” (PG) on June 8. On June 15, the theatre will show “Paddington 2” (PG) before showing “Trolls” (PG) the following Saturday.
On June 29, “Footloose” (PG) will be shown, and the following Saturday, July 6, it will be “Finding Dory” (PG). On Saturday, July 13, “Back to the Future” (PG) will play on the big screen, and on July 20 it will be “Elvis” (PG-13). On the first Saturday of August, Aug. 4, there will be a showing of “Kung Fu Panda 4” (PG), and a week later it will be “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (PG).
To finish the summer, on Aug. 17 the theater will show “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (PG) while on Aug. 24 it will be DC’s “League of Superpets” (PG). On Saturday, Aug. 31, the theatre will play “Grease” (PG). On Sept. 7, there will be a showing of “Wonka” (PG), and on Sept. 14, the theatre will play “The Sandlot” to round out the season, which is sponsored by Richard Chevrolet.
Each Saturday, the gates open at 6 p.m., and the movie will start at dark – approximately 30 minutes after sunset. Each movie night is sponsored by a different community group, ranging from the Southington Education Foundation to Volunteer Fire Companies 1 & 2. One can view the theatre’s Facebook page for a comprehensive list of movies and sponsors.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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