This summer the town of Lumsden will have a new tourist attraction as Moonlight Movies drive-in theatre moves in.
Co-owner Shawn Barrett said the company was operating in Manitou Beach for a couple of years, however, once new ownership took over, a new lease agreement couldn’t be reached.
Barrett added thanks to social media, Moonlight Movies was able to find a new home.
“We have a pretty popular Facebook page,” Barrett said.
“We just put a feeler out there and someone from the town of Lumsden approached us and because they thought they had a pretty good location that would work and it was just a match made in heaven I think.”
Movie buffs will be able to enjoy both new and older movies. He said they won’t have recent releases and the lineup will be similar to what’s in cheaper theatres.
“We’ll have a new movie before it comes out on video, so more like a Rainbow Cinemas that gets movies a little after the fact,” he said.
Classics like Dirty Dancing and the 1978 hit Grease, which has the drive-in movie theatre scene with Danny and Sandy, have always brought out a crowd as well.
“You think that’s quite the old movie and we’ve played many Hollywood blockbusters but I tell you, it’s Grease that just brings them out!”
Barrett said the company has a better connection with the movie studios this year and will try to run more current movies this season.
While the film lineup hasn’t been finalized, Moonlight Movies expects to open for May long weekend — or earlier, depending on weather. Updated information will be available on the company’s Facebook page.
The drive-in will be set up in the town’s River Park. Space is limited, with roughly 50 parking spots, but there will be plenty of grass space for people to enjoy the movie as well.
“It’s not going to be like the old style where you know you’d pull up and someone would put a speaker in your window,” said Barrett.
He said people will still need a radio to hear the movie though, and a portable one will be needed for those watching from the grass. A concession and bathrooms will also be on site for guests to use.