By Cody Mello-Klein | cmelloklein@alextimes.com
The Alexandria Drive-In, which has been providing a novel cinematic experience to residents and families since its first showing of “Jurassic Park” last August, will be discontinued after July, according to a post on the drive-in’s website.
Founded by ALX Community’s Kelly Grant, the Alexandria Drive-In will present its final showing, “Shrek,” on Saturday. The organizers behind the drive-in cite increasing vaccination numbers and a general return to normalcy, including movie theater viewings, as the reason for shutting down the popular event.
“As vaccination numbers rise and we are, thankfully, able to return to our new normal; celebrating in person with friends and families, attending events, and even going back to movie theaters, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Alexandria Drivein after July,” according to the post.
For residents, one of the unintended benefits of the COVID-19 pandemic was the creation of the Alexandria Drive-In last August. Over the course of the fledgling event’s nearly year-long run, residents were able to see everything from animated classics and superhero blockbusters to fright night fare in the parking lot of the Victory Center.
The $150,000 generated from more than 12,000 people attending the film screenings went toward local charities and nonprofits, including ATHENA Rapid Response Innovation Lab, ACT for Alexandria and the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. Grant ultimately won Volunteer Alexandria’s Philanthropist of the Year Award as a result of the drive-in.
The screening of “Shrek” will take place at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available at https://www.alexandriadrivein.com/movies.
