Southington Drive-In

The Southington Drive-In is a drive-in movie theater located at 995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike in Plantsville, Connecticut, United States. It is distinctive for being the only community-owned and volunteer-operated facility of its kind in the state, and it operates as a not-for-profit rather than a commercial business. All proceeds from its screenings and events are distributed to host civic clubs and non-profit organizations. According to the theater's own account, the Southington Drive-In Committee has distributed more than $250,000 to its host groups over eight seasons of weekly drive-in movies. The venue originally opened in 1955 as a for-profit business and showed movies for nearly half a century before closing in 2002. It was later revived as a community enterprise, reopening in the mid-2000s. Today it presents weekly Saturday night movies during its season, along with an annual Halloween Festival held on the Saturday prior to Halloween. The drive-in is described as one of only three remaining outdoor venues in Connecticut. The Southington Drive-In has attracted local media attention over the years. Crossroads Magazine visited in 2011 during a showing of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and CT Snapshot reviewed the venue after a screening of Shrek. Fox 61 reported on the opening night of the 2013 season. Richard Chevrolet has served as a corporate sponsor. The drive-in also offers pavilion rental and maintains a schedule of films for each season, such as its 2022 schedule. Its address and nostalgic appeal—marketed as "Reel" Nostalgia—position it as a local landmark and a gathering place for the Southington community.

The Southington Drive-In opened in 1955 as a for-profit drive-in movie theater in what is now Plantsville, Connecticut. It operated for nearly half a century, becoming a local fixture for outdoor film entertainment. The venue closed in 2002, a period when many drive-ins across the United States were shutting down due to changing entertainment habits and rising land values. In 2004, the property was acquired or transitioned into community hands, and the drive-in was revived as a not-for-profit, community-owned and volunteer-operated facility. This model made it unique in Connecticut: it is described as the only community-owned and volunteer-operated drive-in in the state, and one of only three remaining outdoor venues in Connecticut. Under this arrangement, all proceeds from movie screenings and events are distributed to host civic clubs and non-profit organizations. The Southington Drive-In Committee has reported distributing more than $250,000 to host groups over eight seasons of weekly drive-in movies. The revived drive-in has hosted weekly Saturday night movies during its operating seasons, along with an annual Halloween Festival on the Saturday before Halloween. It has drawn coverage from local media, including Crossroads Magazine in 2011 during a showing of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, CT Snapshot after a screening of Shrek, and Fox 61, which reported on the opening night of the 2013 season. Richard Chevrolet has been a corporate sponsor. The venue also offers pavilion rental and publishes a seasonal schedule, such as its 2022 schedule. As of the early 2020s, it continues to operate at 995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, promoting "Reel" Nostalgia and serving as a community gathering place.

• 2022

  The drive-in publishes its 2022 season schedule.

• 2013

  Fox 61 reports on the opening night of the 2013 season.

• 2011

  Crossroads Magazine visits during a showing of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

• 2004

  The venue is revived as a community-owned, volunteer-operated, not-for-profit drive-in.

• 2002

  The drive-in closes after nearly half a century of operation.

• 1955

  Southington Drive-In opens as a for-profit drive-in movie theater.

Community-owned, volunteer-operated, not-for-profit drive-in theater offering nostalgic outdoor movie experiences and supporting local civic groups.

• Weekly Saturday night drive-in movies

• Annual Halloween Festival

• Pavilion rental

1. 1Southington Drive-Insouthingtondrive-in.org
2. 2Southington Drive-In - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3official_website_pagesouthingtondrive-in.org