Evanston Drive-In Movie Nights To Continue Into December

EVANSTON, IL — Four family-friendly Friday night drive-in film screenings are planned over the coming five weeks in Evanston.

The movies will be projected on the Davis Theater's pop-up screen in the parking lot of the Autobarn service center on Howard Street, which last month hosted three successful showings at the site.

Tickets to the drive-in movie and dinner fundraiser are $30 per vehicle, which is good for up to six people. The lot has a capacity of 70 cars, and some limited scholarships are available, according to organizers. Fresh packaged meals from local restaurants are also available.

Friday's movie will be the 2001 animated fairy tale "Shrek," starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz.

Ovo Frito Cafe, 1936 Maple Ave., will offer burritos and chips for pre-purchase with tickets for the Nov. 13 showing. Future screenings will have dinner options from other downtown Evanston eateries.

Next up: "The Avengers," Joss Whedon's 2012 superhero action movie is scheduled for Nov. 27.

"Planes, Trains and Automobiles," the locally filmed 1987 John Hughes comedy about a marketing executive returning to his Kenilworth home, is set for Dec. 5.

On Dec. 18, organizers plan a drive-in screening of another John Hughes classic with scenes filmed on the North Shore — 1990's"Home Alone."

Proceeds from the drive-in series benefit Evanston's Rotary Clubs, providing money to distribute to local nonprofit groups whose fundraising campaigns have been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic, according to organizers from the group Evanston Loves Rotary.

The group was founded last year to raise awareness of the role of the Rotary International in Evanston. The emergence of COVID-19 this year led to a shift in plans and the drive-in movie series.

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All of last month's screenings were sponsored by Rotary International. This month, new sponsors have stepped forward for each of the coming movie nights, according to organizers.

"Shrek" is sponsored by marketing company Acquirent, "The Avengers" is sponsored by Northwestern University, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" is sponsored by Hagerty Consulting, the mayor's emergency management consultancy, and "Home Alone" is sponsored by AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital.

Tickets and more details are available online. Organizers asked attendees to bring blankets and dress for the weather, with motorists asked to turn off their vehicles during the movie.