Movie theaters make a great daytime escape from summer scorchers, but there's no need to waste a temperate summer night trapped in a crowded megaplex. These open-air options screen Hollywood blockbusters under the stars — and this year, some of our favorite surviving drive-ins have decided to go digital.
DRIVE-INS
LEICESTER DRIVE-IN | 1675 Main St, Leicester, MA | 508.892.4400 | leicesterdrivein.net | $20 per car | Box office opens at 6 pm | Movies shown seven nights a week, mid-June through the last Sunday in August. Concession stand offers popcorn, hot dogs, grilled cheeseburgers, nachos, and other artery-clogging delectables.
MENDON TWIN DRIVE-IN | 35 Milford St, Mendon, MA | 508.473.4958 | mendondrivein.com | $25 per car; $35 per van | Box office opens at 7 pm, weekends 6:15 | Movies now being shown with digital projection and sound, seven nights a week starting May 25 through late August. Snack bar offers clam chowder, lobster rolls, popcorn, Mexican food, hot dogs, ice cream, hamburgers, mozzarella sticks, and much more. Cash only.
MILFORD DRIVE-IN THEATER | 531 Elm Street, Milford, NH | 603.673.4090 | milforddrivein.com | $20 per car, add $5 per person over six passengers | Box office opens at 6:15 pm | First-run films shown on two screens, seven nights a week throughout summer. This southern New Hampshire landmark just upgraded to digital sound and projection, and added an RC racetrack with rentable cars. Concession stand offers the essentials — from bug repellent to burgers, soft-serve, and cotton candy.
NORTHFIELD DRIVE-IN | 81 Northfield Rd, Hinsdale, NH | 603.239.4054 | northfielddrivein.com | $9 per person | Box office opens at 6 pm | Situated right on the border of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, this drive-in is now in its 64th year. Movies shown Friday through Sunday, all summer long. Snack bar offers popcorn, hamburgers, fried dough, pizza, and corn dogs. Cash only.
RUSTIC TRI-VIEW DRIVE-IN | Rte 146, North Smithfield, RI | 401.769.7601 | facebook.com/RusticDriveIn | $25 per car | Movies typically start at 8:30 pm | Just 10 minutes from downtown Providence, the Rustic offers three screens showing at least two movies every night, starting June 15. Snack bar offers popcorn, hamburgers, ice cream, etc.
WELLFLEET DRIVE-IN | Rt. 6, Wellfleet, MA | 508.349.7176 or wellfleetcinemas.com | $9 per person; $5 seniors | Box office opens at 7 pm | Screens first-run double features every night in the summer. Snack bar offers popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream, hamburgers, you name it. Cash only.
OPEN-AIR FILM SERIES
NEWPORTFILM 2012 SUMMER SCREENING SERIES | newportFILM.com | Free | Independent cinema is showcased throughout the City by the Sea; films start at dusk. The schedule: June 22 at Queen Anne Square, The America’s Cup: The Newport Years, 1930 to 1983, and the Highs and Lows from 1987 to 2012 Leading to the America’s Cup World Series in June (seriously; that’s the title). June 30 at the Newport Yachting Center, Marley (with a performance by the Ravers at 7 pm). July 12 at King’s Park, Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey. July 20 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Ethel, a documentary about Ethel Kennedy by her daughter Rory Kennedy. August 2 the Elms Mansion Gardens, The Queen of Versailles. August 9 at the Newport Art Museum, Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters, a doc about the evocative photographer. There will also be a half-dozen kids’ films; check their site for details.
