When I mentioned in passing on Monday that we took the kiddos to the drive-in for a movie over the weekend I didn’t think it was that big of deal, but judging by some of the feedback I received I guess the drive-in is worth a little bit of discussion.

Earlier last week, the DW’s sister called and asked if we’d like to join her family at the drive-in. So Saturday night we all piled in the car (Hey! I wanted to sit there!) and were off to the movies. (Nooooooo!!! This isn’t the way to the movie! This is the way to daycare! No! No! No!) The drive-in is just over an hour away. (Are we there yet?) Not bad if you consider drive-ins are not that common any more. (Can we open the gummy bears now?) According to Drive-Ins.com there were a total of 72 drive-in movie theaters in Iowa back in the day. (Do you smell that?) Of those 72 theaters, only 3 remain open in addition to the one we visited in Maquoketa – one in Grandview, Newton, and Spirit Lake. (Stop touching me!)

The drive-in in Maquoketa is called the 61 Drive-In Theatre. (How much longer?)I don’t think the place has changed a bit since the first time I was there over 15 years ago. (I’m hungry.) There’s a screen and a concession building that houses the projector in the middle of a corn field – not much to change. (Did I say you could eat my popcorn!)

I think what I like best about the drive-in is that it’s a great spot to take a kid to a “big screen” movie without the theater drawbacks. (I wanted the last Milk Dud!) Most of the people sit outside their car in lawn chairs or on blankets – so the kiddos aren’t restricted to bouncing on a chair with a folding seat like in a theater. (I don’t want to share the last juice!) Additionally, with so much open space they can still act like kids during the movie and not disturb anyone else – within reason, or course. (That’s my chair!) Plus, since the audio is fed through an FM station, we can control how loud the explosions are if anyone falls asleep.

The only draw back of the night, besides the chilly weather (You stole my blanket!), was that the first movie of the double feature started at 8:45. (When’s it going to start?) Often the double feature is a G or PG followed by something geared more towards an older crowd, but Saturday night was a double kid’s animated movie night. (I gotta go potty!) Meaning the second movie – which the kiddos wanted to watch just as much as the first – wouldn’t start until around 11.

It was the first time for any of the kiddos at a drive-in, so once darkness settled in and screen lit up they were a little beside themselves the entire night. (Dad, this is the best movie ever!) Sissy and a couple of her cousins claimed the back of the SUV and eventually had it looking like a slumber party. (Mom, can we make this something we do at least once a year?) Potato Boy claimed his comfy lawn chair and all the popcorn. And, Lulu simply proclaimed it was the best movie ever… three minutes into the first movie. (Yeah… how about next week?)

By the way… July 29th marked the 30th anniversary of the release of National Lampoon’s Vacation. Who can’t relate in some fashion to the Griswold’s cross-country trip to Walley World?