A family night out at the Wesley Clover Parks Drive-In Theatre
/KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, when there isn’t a pandemic, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.
I have not been to a drive-in movie since 1990. At the time, I was eighteen years old. We were seven teenagers stuffed into a car that fit four (a few may have been crammed in the trunk!).
Fast forward thirty years, drive-ins are making a comeback during this time of social distancing. Our family learned there was a drive-in taking place at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa’s west end and couldn’t wait to see what our son thought of this unique experience!
This time, our family of three, easily fit in our vehicle which comfortably seats five. There was no need to hide anyone under car seats or next to the spare tire.
I have to admit, I was somewhat nervous to go to the drive-in. Like most Ottawa families, for the past three months, our family excursions consisted of taking a walk or bike ride through our local park.
Once we arrived on-site my fears were quickly allayed. All staff were wearing face masks and social distancing was maintained at all times. There was plenty of space between vehicles and people could even order concessions online via their smartphone.
We had a few minutes to spare before the movie started so our son, David, and I walked around the site while maintaining our social distance from others. It felt like people were coming out of their cocoons. Hatchbacks and truck flatbeds were turned into viewing areas. We even saw one family bring a mattress for the young ones in case their dozy eyes could not last for the entire movie.
The night we visited, Thor: The Dark World was on the bill. I am usually not a superhero fan but enjoyed the escapism of the film. The fact that it was a perfect summer night added to the ambiance. The night went by quickly but was definitely memorable.
Our motto this summer will be to keep it local. The drive-in experience at Wesley Clover Parks was the perfect place to start.
As one can expect, there are a few restrictions in place during this time of COVID-19. People are asked to not bring in any outside food or drink other than sealed bottled water. It is okay to sit in the hatchback or flatbed of your vehicle. Only one person per vehicle is allowed to go to the bathroom at a time with the exception of young kids who can be accompanied by one adult. There are outdoor portapotties on-site with very good hand-washing facilities.
Our family found all the measures to be reasonable and they did not impede our enjoyment of the event. We understood they were for our safety and the safety of all participants.
Films are being offered that will appeal to adults and children. Check the bill ahead of time to make sure the film and screening time are age-appropriate. All ticket sales are done online. For more information, visit, www.thedriveinottawa.ca
