McHenry Outdoor Theater Chosen As 1 Of 4 MLB Drive-Ins For America250 Celebration

MCHENRY, IL — Major League Baseball has selected the McHenry Outdoor Theater as one of four drive-in theaters nationwide to host an America250 Fourth of July celebration, officials announced.

The event will feature a screening of the baseball classic, The Sandlot, a live broadcast of the Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game, baseball-themed activities, Ballpark Bites concessions and a fireworks display, according to a news release.

“What’s more American than baseball and drive-ins?” said Scott Dehn, owner of the outdoor theater at 1510 N. Chapel Hill Road in Lakemoor. “I do think we got on the map for this sort of thing because of what we did during Covid, with the alternative events we had, like concerts, and I hope it just keeps opening up more and more doors.”

MLB will also install a large LED screen in front of the theater’s main screen for the event, which will be bright enough for day-time viewing, Dehn said.

Thhe MLB is hosting the multi-state celebration at four select drive-ins across the U.S. as part of its America250 campaign. which marks the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, according to the news release.

Gates will open at 4 p.m., with the movie scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and first pitch for the Cubs-Cardinals game at 7:08 p.m. Admission will be free, but access is limited to carload tickets distributed through Eventbrite and a theater drawing.

As of Monday morning, the carload tickets have sold out but residents hopeful to stop out can still enter the theater drawing.

The MLB first reached out to McHenry Outdoor Theater in March and credited employees for helping elevate the venue’s national profile.

“I told them, ‘Because of your hard work, this place has attracted the eyes of Major League Baseball,’” Dehn said. “It’s very exciting.”

Other selected sites for the Fourth of July Summer Drive-in Celebration are the drive-ins in Vineland, New Jersey; Blue Ridge, Georgia; and Paramount, California.