Boston Parks pivots to drive-in movies amid pandemic

Due to the on-going public health circumstances surrounding COVID-19, many of our regularly scheduled parks programming could not take place this summer. Like many things in 2020, we had to make adjustments. Luckily, with sponsorship support from the Highland Street Foundation, we were able to team up with the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment and the Age Strong Commission to put on this socially-distant Drive-in movie series. 

To save the grass in our parks system from damage, we hosted the series in two different parking lots throughout the City. The Boston Convention & Exhibition (BCEC) parking lot in South Boston and Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Parker Street Parking lot in Mission Hill. We want to thank our host sites for working with us on this series. 

Our movie screen was provided by local production company Audio Spectrum, and some familiar food vendors provided snacks and treats to over 980 cars filled with movie-goers from neighborhoods all over Boston. Together, we were able to host nine different showings over the course of four Wednesdays in July. Families were able to enjoy films like Jurassic Park, Frozen 2, and Harriet from the safety of their own vehicle, with audio streaming from their car radio. 

This was the first Drive-in movies series we have ever hosted. Have any ideas for improvements, movie recommendations or know of a parking lot in your neighborhood that you think may work? Email Parks@Boston.gov with the subject line "Drive-in Movie Idea" to let us know!