After much success with last year’s drive-in movies at Battle Point Park, the Bainbridge Island Metro Parks and Recreation District is continuing that theme with showings through August.
Parks district community outreach coordinator Emily Swift said they have been doing movies at Battle Point for years but had to alter it to a drive-in format last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the success they had with turnouts and positive feedback, the parks district decided to not fix what isn’t broken.
“Folks enjoyed the nostalgia of being in the car; some kids have never done that. Because it was so popular last year we decided to keep it that way even though restrictions have lifted,” Swift said.
The first movie last week was Bill and Ted Face the Music. The first two weeks of movies are categorized as teen nights where island teens voted on what they wanted to see. Black Panther will be shown this Friday at 9 p.m.
The final two weeks include a Throwback Thursday movie to go along with the movie already scheduled for Friday. Next week, Back to the Future will be shown Thursday followed by Raya and the Last Dragon on Friday.
The last week of August, The Goonies will be shown on Thursday and Captain Marvel on Friday.
“We try to do a variety,” Swift said about the movie selections. “Obviously we want things to be family-friendly and appropriate for a wide variety of audiences.”
Swift said all showings have been booked. Each week, the park district opens up an additional 10 spots for cars for the movie that’s showing the following week. The car capacity at Battle Point is 35 but walk-ins are welcome to sit up front with lawn chairs. Vehicle registration is required to attend but there is no cost. Folks can register on the parks district website. Walk-ins don’t need to register.
PacWesty will be at each showing to provide free popcorn.
Aside from the movie, folks will be able to divulge in other activities beforehand such as cornhole and ladder ball. The parks district is collaborating with the Bainbridge Library, which is providing activity kits for kids each showing. They can be picked up at the library beforehand.
“Each kit contains a script with instructions explaining what actions to do during which parts of the movie,” Swift said. “They also contain props, treats and an interactive experience. It’s all activities specific to the title that you’re watching.”
The precise location of the drive-in is on the rear side of the Transmitter Building at Battle Point Park. Movies begin 30 minutes after dusk.
“It just feels totally different being under the stars surrounded by people in this big open space. Not a lot of people spend time at Battle Point once the sun’s gone down. I think that’s why it’s been so popular and why we continue to do it this year,” Swift said.
