St. Louis drive-in concert and movie venue is ‘COVID-19 compliant,’ promoters say
Thursday night marks the opening of Drive-In St. Louis, a new concert and movie venue being billed as a safe entertainment option and a way to help area bands survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 9-acre outdoor venue is located in the parking lot of the former St. Louis Mills outlet mall, now known as the POWERplex, in the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood, Missouri. It can accommodate 450 cars, according to a news release.
Ten music and movie events are planned between Thursday and June 6 on nights when high-school graduation ceremonies aren’t being held. Visuals will be projected on five jumbotrons. Music can be heard on car radios tuned into a designated FM frequency.
“This safe, COVID-19 compliant drive-in campus will meet all social-distancing and health department recommendations,” the release stated.
Patrons can bring their own coolers with food and drink or order barbecue and snacks for delivery to vehicles. People in each car will have access to their own 10-by-15-foot picnic area.
The venue was created to accommodate high-school graduation ceremonies that were canceled due to the coronavirus, said promoter Nancy Milton of Insight PR St. Louis. Eight schools are using it this spring. Seniors walk across a stage while families cheer from vehicles.
“(The owners) already had this elaborate set-up with staging and jumbotrons and high-tech audio, and they thought, ‘What else can we do with it that would be fun for the community?’” Milton said.
That led to the music and movie nights.
Here’s this spring’s line-up at Drive-In St. Louis:
- Thursday, May 21: 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s country and rock hits by Exit 180, followed by the movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
- Friday, May 22: Petty Cash Junction with Tom Petty and Johnny Cash hits, followed by the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
- Saturday, May 23: Klose Kuarters opens for Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys, followed by the cult classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
- Sunday, May 24: Music by Dance Floor Riot, followed by the Prince movie “Purple Rain.”
- Tuesday, May 26: Music by Jobz 300, followed by the Pixar/Disney movie “Onward.”
- Wednesday, May 27: Family night with the teenage boy band Scamps, followed by the movie “Pitch Perfect.”
- Thursday, May 28: Family night with young rockers Mint Queso, followed by the movie “Space Jam.”
- Saturday, May 30: Music by 1970s supergroup SuperJam, followed by the movie “Dazed and Confused.”
- Friday, June 5: Music by dance band Trixie Delight, followed by the movie “Dirty Dancing.”
- Saturday, June 6: Blues rock by Jeremiah Johnson with Chrome and Steele, Toast & Jam featuring Steve Scorfina of REO Speedwagon and Pavlov’s Dog. There is no movie at this major concert event.
Drive-In St. Louis is located at 5555 St. Louis Mills Blvd. in Hazelwood.
General admission parking passes cost $40 per car in advance at www.driveinstl.com or $50 at the gate with a six-person limit. Reservations are available in the two front rows for $60 or $70. Passes are half price on opening night. “Turfed Party Pods” for eight people with VIP treatment, including private restrooms, cost $320.
The gate opens at 5:30 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. and movies at 8:45 p.m. For more information, call 314-528-2020.
This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 1:42 PM.
