Warm, Clear Nights Bring Back a Beloved Summer Pastime
Drive-in theaters combine all the excitement of going to the movies with a little nostalgia and a beautiful, starry sky. And with four classic theaters still operating, the region is practically a drive-in hotspot. So, load up the car, stop by the concession stand, and spend some summer nights at NEPA’s cinemas under the stars.
Hunlock Creek, PA
Generations of locals have flocked to the Garden Drive-In every summer since it opened in 1952 with one screen, a 325-car lot and a dream. The Garden Drive-In has now expanded to fit over 600 cars. They also added a second screen and a fully digital projection system.
Movies play Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, typically beginning at 8:45 p.m., or as darkness permits. Each screen features two films for the price of one. The drive-in also converts to one of NEPA’s largest flea markets every Sunday, April through October from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Dickson City, PA
Since 1949, you’ll find this classic drive-in along NEPA’s famous Route 6, just about 6 miles north of Downtown Scranton. The Circle has two screens, one of which is the largest in Pennsylvania, and a semicircular design, making viewing optimal for more than 800 cars at a time.
The Circle Drive-In is open weekends, with each screen featuring two summer blockbusters, and occasionally a retro film. Gates open at 7:45 p.m. and movies begin as darkness permits. Every Sunday from March through November the drive-in theater transforms into the Circle Flea Fair from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Lehighton, PA
The Mahoning Drive-In Theater is a living, breathing time capsule just outside of Jim Thorpe. Built in 1947 and opened in 1948, it is NEPA’s oldest drive-in. Catch old family favorites and cult classics from the last century on one of the largest Cinemascope screens in the country. Their concession stand even doubles as a retro VHS, DVD and vinyl record shop.
The Mahoning shows films on Tuesday nights and weekends. They offer overnight passes for campers and out-of-towners.
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West Wyoming, PA
After sitting vacant for just over 30 years, the Moonlite Drive-In opened back up in 2019 and is regularly flooded by a stream of headlights.
The new and improved Moonlite Drive-In features a modern, digital projection system. The remodeled, yet still-old-school concession stand offers all the usual movie theater treats. And there’s enough room to comfortably fit up to 400 vehicles. The Moonlite shows classic and contemporary double features every weekend.
Learn MoreArticle Updated from its Original Version Published on 6/24/2019.
