The Mustard Seed

Manistique Drive In Movie Nights

FREE Drive-In Movie Nights are back! Schoolcraft Tourism & Commerce has hosted six movie events since the summer of 2016 at the long shuttered drive in theater across the highway from the Schoolcraft County Airport, the most recent of which was early this past June.

April and Jason Collins own the property on U.S. 2 and have allowed Don Erickson and Eric Sherbinow of the U.P. Film Union to produce movie events that bring back the bygone days of the drive in theater. The events typically feature a blockbuster movie from the not too distant past followed by a campy, unknown “B feature” as was the norm during the heyday of the drive in.

Drive in theater screens were once a common sight across the United States. At one time there were over 4000 of these screens dotting the landscape of our nation. The advent of home video in the late 70’s and early 80’s brought about the rapid demise of the drive in theater. Today there are fewer than 400 drive ins left.

While the Manistique drive in is officially among those listed in the permanently closed column of websites that keep track of such things the STC manages to occasionally breathe some life back into the only outdoor movie screen left in the Upper Peninsula.

Saturday July 14th will be the next time that our beloved little drive in comes back to life adding one more exciting event to Folk Fest weekend. The drive in events are family friendly and the best part is that they are free of charge.

Movie licensing for a public showing is expensive but thanks to local businesses and organizations who provide sponsorship, the STC and the Film Union are able to put these events on. Past sponsors include: Limestone Federal Credit Union, Manistique Hockey Association, Wheaty’s Pub, Jack Pine Lodge, Big Spring Inn, Grover Real Estate, The Mustard Seed, Savings Insurance Agency, Superior State Agency and Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.

The July 14th drive in event is being sponsored by Putvin Healthmart Pharmacy in Manistique.

A drive in movie would not be complete without the concession stand and STC drive in events feature concessions operated by local non-profit organizations with all proceeds going to that organization. Each of these concession operators serves their choice of beverages and snacks and they set their own prices. Items that can usually be found at the concession stand include assorted soft drinks (with hot chocolate at cooler times) theater size candy, hot dogs, pizza, and fresh popped theater style popcorn.

St Francis de Sales School will be operating the concession stand for this upcoming event.

For a bit of nostalgia you won’t want to miss this chance to step into the past at the next STC drive in theater event. The show starts at dusk (usually a half hour after sunset). Moviegoers sometimes arrive as early as five or six o’clock but gates officially open at eight o’clock. Be sure to bring items that will ensure your comfort such as lawn chairs, blankets, warm clothes (it gets chilly after sundown), sunscreen and insect repellent.

While fun activities of all kinds are encouraged, fireworks, cooking grills and other sources of open flame are prohibited for safety’s sake.

See you at the drive in!