What’s bigger than Netflix and just as safe as staying in to watch it? The big-screen, drive-in cinema. Enjoying a cosy movie night under the stars from the safety of the driver’s seat is a reality more and more people are getting to enjoy.
The cinematic drive-in used to see scores of lovers and movie lovers queuing up in their cars at dusk. They’d pull in and park in an allocated position to watch Oscar winning flicks and cult movies from the comfort of the front seat. The country had 25 outdoor silver screens at one stage, but South Africa’s last major outdoor movie theatre - held on the roof of the Menlyn Park shopping centre - closed down in 2014, Rekordeast.co.za reported. Since then, we’ve enjoyed some outdoor car cinema on a smaller scale, like Galileo in the Western Cape, which uses beautiful locations like wine farms for its gatherings.
Galileo drive-in is currently up and running at Meerendal Wine Estate, Durbanville, showing classic movies like The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, and Singin’ in the Rain. But be warned, the tickets sell out fast so buy them online in advance!
The imminent opening of Mother City Drive-in has received much media attention and early bird tickets have sold well. However, there isn’t yet a category for such a gathering in pandemic precautionary terms, and, despite it being as socially distant as a trip to essential services like the supermarket or the doctor, regulations and restrictions have not yet given it the go-ahead.
When it receives permission, Mother City Drive-in audiences are promised much more than cinema. In the bubble of your vehicle, you’ll be able to enjoy live comedy, live music, and theatre.
The beauty of the setup is that “it allows us to still host fun and exciting, family-friendly events with safe social distancing still being adhered to,” says Sean Binder, co-founder and owner of Mother City Drive-in. It’s a non-medical remedy for a patient nation.
"There's a PTSD that will come with this lockdown, eventually,” organiser Lyle Masters told Business Insider SA. “… that’s what we're trying to avoid for so many people. [We’re] not only just feeding the temporary workers who get involved with our festivals and events, not only feeding the artists and musicians who can perform their crafts, but it's also about society having that outlet".
Watch out for the Mother City Drive-In announcement of official venues. The latest sneak peak seems to suggest secret, sprawling lawns in Clifton.
Safety measures
Besides mandatory masks for attendants and employees alike, and regular sanitisation, the Galileo website lists the following safety measures: “tickets can be scanned through a closed window, no person/s are to walk around the venue, portable toilets are available for use and disinfected after each person, all rubbish to remain in your vehicle.”
Make sure that nothing gets in the way of your next outdoor movie experience. Get car insurance today!
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