Yes, the Bear Drive In grand opening will be this weekend.
No, you will not be able to buy tickets online, the twin-screen drive in website says.
The theater, on Christiana-Bear Road behind the Bear Lowe’s, will sell tickets at the gate, and only plans to allow about 150 cars per screen.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, tickets for this opening weekend will not be sold online,” the website says “Tickets will be sold upon arrival and will be on a first come, first served basis. When each lot is full, gates will close. Anyone in line without tickets will be turned away if/when we reach capacity. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience.”
Owner Bob Weir said earlier in the week that he hoped to have the online ticketing process up but it wasn’t possible.
Gates will open at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the website said. The official address is 1061 E. Songsmith Drive.
Showtimes will always be at dusk. While that will be about 8:30 p.m. this week, it will move earlier as the summer wears on to fall.
The website asks for comments and questions at the end of the post, not through direct messages.
The theater will open with “Jungle Cruise” and “Fast and Furious 9.”
Tickets are $15 for adults ages 15 to 64, and include a 84-ounce bag of popcorn and a 16-ounce Coke, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite. ginger ale or water. Discounts include $11 for those ages 55-plus, military or emergency personnel; and $11 for children ages 5 to 14, who get a smaller popcorn and drink. Children 4 and younger are free.
The theater will only have one showing of each movie each night, Weir said.
Weir discourages people from bringing in their own food. The concession stand will sell hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy and snacks.
The theater will pipe the movie sound through car radios. Vehicles should be kept in auxiliary without motors running because of the dangers associated with carbon monoxide build-up, he said. The theater has equipment to help anyone whose battery dies, Weir said.
Guests are welcome to sit in the bed of their own pickup trucks, to raise the hatchback on SUVs as long as they don’t rise above the vehicle and to put lawn chairs outside their own cars and sit there to listen.
This week, it will screen films on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Starting Aug. 6, it will become a five-day a week theater, with the same movies running Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. New movies will start on Fridays.
“Thank you all so much for your patience and excitement!” the website said.
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience.
