Drive-in poster June 2020_web
Local News

Quarantine Cinema drive-in offers safe family fun for Independence Day

 A collaboration between the park district, high school and villages, the drive-in movie will accommodate 125 cars. (Provided photo)

To celebrate Fourth of July weekend, H-F residents have a chance to join their neighbors for a drive-in movie night, a COVID-19 twist to a “Movie in the Park” tradition.

Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, the villages of Homewood and Flossmoor and Homewood-Flossmoor High School are coming together to host Quarantine Cinema, a drive-in movie for families on Friday, July 3, as a kickoff to the Independence Day weekend.

 A collaboration between the park district, high school and villages, the drive-in movie will accommodate 125 cars. (Provided photo)

Tickets to see “School of Rock” will be available through a lottery system. Entries are being accepted through Wednesday, June 17. For those who win tickets, the cost is $25 per car.

The movie will be shown in the parking lot at H-F High School, on the east side of the South Building with the screen facing Kedzie Avenue. Viewers will tune into an FM channel to hear the movie’s sound. Gates open at 8 p.m. and the movie kicks off at 9 p.m. 

In past years on Independence Day, Homewood and Flossmoor hosted parades, while the park district sponsored Family Fun Fest at Izaak Walton Preserve, said Debbie Kopas, H-F Park District executive director. 

With COVID-19 forcing the shutdown of large gatherings like parades and concerts, the park staff thought the drive-in movie would be a great alternative way to celebrate the holiday weekend.

Participants will be required to stay in their cars and will not be allowed to open the back of their cars to view the movie. The only time they will be allowed to leave their vehicles is to use one of the portable bathrooms. Kopas said the rules for the event are strict, but they are in place for the safety and health of all.

There will be no vendors on site, but moviegoers can pre-order a $20 snack pack when purchasing tickets. Kopas said the snack pack will include basic movie theater treats — popcorn, candy and bottled water.

The high school parking lot will be reconfigured to include only 125 parking spots, complying with Illinois physical distancing guidelines for drive-in movies. Kopas said cars will be in every other parking space to ensure physical distance is maintained during the event.

Homewood and Flossmoor residents are eligible to enter the ticket lottery. After June 17, remaining tickets will become available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are tickets remaining after June 24, they will be offered to those outside the park district residency area.

To enter the ticket lottery, email [email protected] with your name, address and phone number. Selected residents will be contacted to complete the ticket purchase.

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