Enderby’s Starlight Drive-In will be back in 2021

Despite social distancing rules, vastly reduced attendance and a lack of Hollywood blockbusters, Enderby's Starlight Drive-In will return next summer.

Starlight Drive-In co-owner Brian Smith told iNFOnews.ca community support had enabled them to get through the season.

"Thanks to our loyal followers and visitors, we did well enough to be certain of a return in 2021," Smith said.

Like many businesses across the province, new pandemic protocols cast a shadow of doubt on whether the drive-in cinema would be able to continue throughout the summer.

The drive-in opened in early May halving its 200-plus capacity to 100. But weeks later provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that all drive-ins, with no exceptions, would be restricted to 50 cars.

The revenue-generating concession was also out of the picture.

The restrictions saw a Change.org petition launched which quickly garnered thousands of signatures asking for an exemption from the Ministry of Health.

READ MORE: How Enderby's Starlight Drive-in has survived in a nearly extinct business

By the end of May, the Starlight had permission to open its concession stand and the show went on throughout the summer. And it will still go on if tickets are sold and the weather stays good. Currently, the drive-in has movies scheduled up to Sept. 6.

But Smith said the end of the season's end is still undetermined and could continue later into September, weather and attendance dependent.

"If we sell out the next four days and people continue to respect our social distancing rules, then we may stay open a bit longer," Smith said. "Right now the weather forecast looks pretty good. It's up to our guests."

Readers Digest magazine just ranked the Enderby drive-in as one of the best in Canada.

For details on what's showing and to buy tickets go here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.