Drive in movies are something that many people in our modern times have never had the pleasure of experiencing. The Pop Up : Drive In : Stay Safe in Astoria, Oregon is aiming to change that, all from the safety and comfort of your own vehicle.
Due to current social and physical distancing mandates, movie theaters across the country are shuttered, but the American Legion/Old Safeway Parking Lot has been spruced up and the City of Astoria has also generously allowed electric hookup for the pop-up event to create a drive in experience. With the help of local venues and a mobile projector on The Joy Train, a recognized and adored Astoria icon, they will be rotating showings beginning at the American Legion/Old Safeway Parking Lot on Thursday and Friday nights.
TICKETS ARE FREE FOR ALL, and donations are gladly accepted, 100% of which will go to the UNITED WAY COVID emergency community fund.
As long as the weather is decent, the movies are expected to start May 7, 8, and 9 with screenings at 8:40 p.m.
Kicking off the Pop Up : Drive In : Stay Safe events in Astoria, Oregon is a new 30 minute documentary, Helmet John : Astoria is Home, the latest project by Emmy award-winning cameraman Jeff Daly. This docu-film takes a deeper look at a familiar Astoria citizen that many pass by without a second glance. Building upon his life experiences and advocacy for the indigent and mentally ill, Daly’s latest project highlights Helmet John, one of Astoria’s most beloved and well-known ambassadors. John is also the city's most recognizable homeless figure, and this film tells the story of heartbreak and mystery -- the kind of mystery that creates urban legends.
Join the Astoria community for this film, explore what it means to be homeless, and hear John’s views during the COVID-19 crisis as we ponder our relationships, responses and obligations to humanity.
Though the traditional snack shack of yesteryear isn’t available, Pop Up : Drive In : Stay Safe DOES have the next best thing. Food trucks and local restaurateurs coordinating snacks and meals to order ahead of time, starting with Coffee OR Waffle. Bridge & Tunnel Bottle Shop will be offering a mystery drive in special. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own snacks and beverages with them.
Upon confirmation of each venue, there will be a limited amount of ticket reservations released for each evening and venue. Sign up for more information and to receive updates on the Pop Up : Drive In : Stay SafeFacebook page.
Information and Tickets:
Please park by 8:30pm. Screenings begin at 8:40pm (time will adjust with season, and due to weather)
Danielle Denham is an award-winning and published photographer who loves her home state of Oregon. Recently she was featured on a regional-Emmy-winning episode of Oregon Field Guide, and is currently writing a book on Abandoned Oregon. When she isn't out and about exploring for derelict places to photograph, you may find her hanging around in Eugene Oregon with Tyler Willford and his two awesome kiddos.
A 28-year-old Oregon woman has seemingly vanished after a late-night highway breakdown led to her accepting a ride from a stranger along Highway 22, and her family says the circumstances just don’t add up. According to Oregon State Police, Maria Linda Jade Kilmer was...
Oregon weather is doing what it does best this time of year… keeping us guessing. If you stepped outside this morning and thought it felt more like winter than spring, you’re not wrong. After a powerful system moved through Oregon on Wednesday, conditions across the...
PORTLAND, Ore. — In what city officials are calling “a bold step forward for Portland’s ever-evolving culinary scene,” a new open-air dining concept has officially launched this week, offering guests the chance to cook their own meals over a shared barrel fire in what...
EUGENE, OR — After months of tireless searching, dozens of rejected offers, and what they describe as “a full emotional breakdown in a Safeway parking lot,” local couple Ryan and Melissa Carter say they’re finally relieved to have found the perfect fixer-upper—listed...
If you’ve been enjoying hints of spring lately, Oregon’s about to remind you who’s still in charge. A powerful winter storm is rolling into the state, and it’s expected to dump serious snow across the Cascades just as many were starting to think winter was winding...
A couple summers ago, we were already a few days into a laid-back stay in Astoria, soaking in the kind of slow coastal rhythm that makes you forget what day it is. That particular morning, we had a loose plan to show the kids a couple of The Goonies spots—the house...
PORTLAND, OR — In a bold move city leaders are calling “immersive, reflective, and mildly concerning,” officials this week unveiled plans for a brand-new public art installation in downtown Portland: a towering, hyper-realistic sculpture made entirely of crumpled tin...
If you’re planning to be out and about in Springfield this Saturday, you may want to give yourself a little extra time. A “No Kings” march is scheduled to take place on March 28 starting at 11 a.m., and while the event is expected to draw a sizable crowd, city...
PORTLAND, OR — In what officials are calling a “creative and deeply innovative approach” to the housing crisis, the City of Portland this week unveiled its latest solution: building fully livable, completely affordable homes out of oversized LEGO bricks. Standing...
SALEM, OR — In a bold escalation of political discourse, Governor Tina Kotek announced Tuesday she will be challenging former President Donald Trump to a full-on schoolyard fight at first recess, confirming the showdown will take place “by the swings, where it’s...
PORTLAND, OR — In an effort to keep traditions alive while also staying true to the city’s unique character, Portland officials announced this week that this year’s Easter egg hunt will include eggs hidden directly in sidewalk poop. “Families have come to expect a...
There’s something about the Oregon coast that always feels alive. The crashing waves, the salty air, the steady rhythm of the tide. But every so often, that sense of life is met with a quiet, sobering reminder of nature’s other side. That was the scene Thursday...
