Drive-in movies are the perfect way to spend a summer night. Watching the latest top grossing movies while keeping on eye on the bright sunset, buried in blankets, snacking, and chilling with friends is what these movies are all about.

In the field of the drive-in movie, there are many rows of spots to park cars.

“There’s these little…they kinda look like small lampposts…and if you need sound and don’t want to leave your car running, you can connect to that, and two cars fit in between a set of polls,” junior Nina Ciresi said.

The lines are long. Arriving at the showing area at least thirty minutes before opening time will increase the chance of getting a decent spot. Getting in line at the opening time will ensure a long line of cars will be waiting.

“[You could sit back] a couple of miles. It’s really long. A lot of people wait,” Ciresi said.

Having a frisbee or football to play with will also come in handy.

“If they open at seven then the movie doesn’t start until eight or eight-thirty, so it’s a lot of time that you sit just waiting,” Ciresi said.

At Vali-Hi Drive-In in Lake Elmo, they show three movies a night, starting from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. depending on the night. They also sell hot-dogs and other concessions.

While planning which night to drive there, be sure to check the weather as well.

“The weather was nice during the day so when we were driving there…It got freezing…I wish it was warmer,” Ciresi said.

Bringing blankets helps to keep warm during the movie as the sun sets and the temperature drops. Pack a few things in the trunk as well.

“We went to Walgreens and bought snacks before, we brought blankets and pillows and someone brought two chairs so we could set them outside, and other people had grills and footballs or frisbees,” Ciresi said.

For people 13 years old and above, the tickets cost $9.50. The Vali-Hi Drive-In opened on May 18 and is open at 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. on Sundays, and 7:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. Drive-in movies can get crowded and cold, but those issues are easy to solve, especially when the output is a fun night outside with friends. They’re worth the slight struggle to enjoy the movie because it’s a retro way to spend summer nights outside.

This post was originally published in the May issue of The Rubicon.