5 Drive-In, family-run since 1962, feels like the movies theatre the megaplex forgot. It’s a three screen operation, and thank goodness. Families, teenagers and nostalgic movie lovers (on a nice summer Saturday night, they get more than 1,000 cars) pull into a the scraggy, seven hectare field for a double bill that begins at dusk. Kitschy trailers (remember the dancing hot dogs?), little kids in PJ’s, lawn chairs set in the back of Dad’s pickup, blankets and bug spray are welcome change of scenery from elbow-to-elbow city cinemas. The diner-style concession stand serves the usual nachos, popcorn, licorice and pizza, but there’s also a country fair circa 1958 theme to the menu; Pogos, cotton candy, pickles-on-a-stick, funnel cakes, five cent candy, malt shakes and floats. (just about the only non-throwback is the movie selection; it mostly shows the big summer weekends (they’re packed) and go on a discount day; Tuesdays are only $5 a person admission (kids are $2). On Thursdays, a full carload is just $15.
