Redcliff councillor Chris Czember (right) is planning a free drive-in movie night for the community on Saturday (Photo courtesy of Ross Lavigne)

By Scott Roblin

Drive-In Movies

Free community drive-in movie screenings planned Saturday in Redcliff

Apr 17, 2020 | 5:49 PM

REDCLIFF, AB – A special blast from the past is being planned for this weekend in Redcliff for those feeling cooped up because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday night, a free drive-in movie night will be held between the Redcliff Aquatic Centre and Rec-Tangle Arena for anyone in the community searching for a night out.

“They need something to do other than look at the same four walls each day with nothing to do,” said Redcliff town councillor Chris Czember. “This is a good, safe way to get out and still feel like you’re socializing.”

Czember has been leading the charge over the last week to set up the community event after seeing his counterparts in Brooks come up with a similar idea.

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“The idea came from Brooks, I kind of piggy-backed their idea,” said Czember. “They ultimately decided it was too risky because [the JBS Canada plant] is such a big economic driver in their community to have an event like this. But, we’re pretty low on cases here.”

The event has been approved by Alberta Health Services and will feature strict physical distancing measures including cars being parked at least six feet apart, windows rolled up or cracked slightly during the showings, no bathrooms on site, and no money changing hands.

Fresh Air Cinema will be providing the screen on Saturday evening for back-to-back showings of Jumanji: The Next Level and a screening of 1917 following an hour-long intermission.

Czember did not want to use Town of Redcliff money to fund the event as it would have forced a slight raise to the tax rate and instead received overwhelming support from Redcliff groups and business owners to fully fund the night.

“My plan was to get one movie,” said Czember. “As word got out, one Facebook post, all of the sudden I had more than enough money to do two movies and I had to turn some money away actually. It was great having local businesses like Pharmasave, Redcliff Hilton, Who’s on Third, all of council, Splash ‘N’ Dash, Trukkers. I’m missing some, but man there was just a lot of support.”

It’s estimated that up to 300 vehicles can be fit into the space along Main Street and staff will assist with the parking for those in attendance.

Czember added it will be a special experience for those Redcliff residents who have never had the chance to watch a film or two from their vehicles.

“I think it will be really special for some of the younger folk that never got to experience the culture back when I was younger,” he said. “I know I always looked forward to going to the movies.”

The first movie will get underway at sunset or around 8:30 pm and once underway viewers will not be allowed to leave their vehicles.

It’s not the normal circumstances for a large Redcliff community event, but one that Czember feels the town needs.

“It’s really just to get out of the house and get some sanity back, try to live as normal of a life as we can in this uncertain time,” said Czember. “It’s a weird world we live in right now, we’re just trying to bring some normalcy back to it.”