Drive-In Events: The New Normal?!

By Evan W. Black, Photos by Photo By Julie White

As Houston and the rest of the world assess what possibilities a post-COVID future holds, a couple of events this weekend are taking the new normal for a test drive — literally.

The Orange Show has jumped on the drive-in movie trend, joining the Rooftop Cinema Club at Sawyer Yards in screening flicks for folks to enjoy from the comfort and safety of their own cars. This weekend at the Orange Show World Headquarters (2334 Gulf Terminal Dr.), catch Labyrinth (Thursday), The Princess Bride (Friday), Robin Hood: Men in Tights and The Big Lebowski (both on Saturday).  It’s just $30 per vehicle, and sound is transmitted via FM radio. Pico’s Restaurant will be popping up with quesadillas, hot dogs, aguas frescas and more. Buy tickets here — only 100 available per show, and none sold at the door.

And 350 cars will be permitted to attend the first-ever Metamorphosis Drive-In Music Festival, a three-stage event taking place in the Minute Maid Park parking lot this Saturday from 7pm-11pm. Expect super-sanitized, multi-channel, silent-disco-type headsets for each guest; music lovers can choose which stage, all featuring Houston bands or DJs, to listen to. All patrons will be required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing while not in their vehicles, and are permitted to bring their own food and beverages; food trucks will also be on-site.

The idea came about from Chuy Terrazas, a member of local group Los Skarnales, who recently saw footage of a drive-in concert in Lithuania. He joined forces with Texas-based Limitless Light + Sound to organize the projection art, headphones, lighting, sound system and more. Los Skarnales will headline the evening, which also features performances by Bayou City Funk, DJ I.V., NONC3NTS and Lords of Kool, among others.

AT TOP: Bayou City Funk