What’s showing? At Central Valley drive-ins opened because of coronavirus, plenty
For more than a decade, if you wanted to see a movie at a drive-in in the Central Valley you had to travel more than 70 miles to Madera. But now, in the age of coronavirus, the region has multiple drive-in options to choose from for safe family fun.
In coming weekends alone you can catch movies in Modesto, Ceres, Los Banos and Turlock as pop-up (and permanent) drive-ins proliferate with major movie theaters still closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Besides showing movies, some are also showing concerts and other special events.
The newly restored Ceres Drive-In, a valley staple for 60 years before it closed in 2008, celebrates its grand opening Sept. 25 with a full weekend of showings. So pack your family into the car and see what else is showing in Stanislaus County and the surrounding area in the next few weeks.
Neighborhood Church, 5921 Stoddard Road, Modesto
- “Mulan” — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18
Tickets free but must be reserved in advance; visit www.yourmnc.com/drivein.
The Nightlight, Los Banos Fairgrounds, 563 C St.
- “Coco” (in Spanish) — 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19
- “Coco” (in English) — 7:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19
- “Uncut Gems” — 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19
- “The Wretched” — 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19
- “Possessor” — 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9
Online tickets $10 first person, $5 for each passenger; gate tickets $15 for the first person, $5 each passenger; visit www.nightlighttheater.com.
Go Drive-Up Entertainment, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N Broadway, Turlock
- “Friday Night Lights” — gates 6 p.m., show sunset, Friday and Sunday, Sept. 18 and 20
- “How to Train Your Dragon” — gates 6 p.m., show sunset, Saturday, Sept. 19
- “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” — gates 6 p.m., show sunset, Thursday, Sept. 24
- “Boys of Summer Live” (live Eagles tribute band concert) — 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25
- “Beetlejuice” — gates 6 p.m., show sunset, Thursday, Oct. 1
- “Annabelle” — gates 6 p.m., show sunset, Friday, Oct. 2
- “Mean Girls” — gates 6 p.m., show sunset, Saturday, Oct. 3
- “The Conjuring” — gates 6 p.m., show sunset, Sunday, Oct. 4
Tickets $25 per car for movies, $50 for live concert; visit godriveup.com.
Ceres Drive-In, 1651 E Whitmore Ave.
- “Frozen” — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25
- “American Graffiti” — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26
- “Avengers: Endgame” — 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27
All tickets $30 per carload; visit www.cerescruisein.com
Frogtown Drive-In, Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 2465 Gun Club Road, Angels Camp
- “Frozen II” — 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27
Tickets $25 per car ($20 in advance); visit www.frogtown.org.
State Theatre, John Thurman Field, 601 Neece Dr, Modesto
- “The Goonies” — 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17
- “42” — 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17
Tickets $30 per car; visit thestate.org.
