Ayr goes car-azy for drive-ins
Jump in the car and head for the movies and a concert
Date nights just got a whole lot better as Ayr gears up to become a drive-in entertainment capital.
That’s thanks to two jam-packed events set to kick-start the business in the town.
The first event ‘Country Music Drive In Show’ will roll onto Ayr Racecourse at the end of this month on Thursday, July 30 (see below).
And the second hopes to catapult Rozelle park into a drive-in cinema hub as The Iris get set to wheel in their giant screen over two days on August 22 and 23.
The Iris company is throwing it back to the eighties and nineties with three different film showings per day over the two days.
Film titles are yet to be announced but The Iris director Ross Hunter, 31, promises there will be something for everyone from eighties throwbacks, family friendly and cult classics.
Ross, who also runs his own community cinema space in Glasgow, said: “We’re pretty excited.
“One of the main reasons we wanted to do it is because in this moment and time with cinemas it’s kind of up in the air.
“Nobody is really sure how to open them safely yet so we want to make sure people still get a big screen experience.”
Viewers are encouraged to bring cosy comforts and tasty snacks for the big screen, which will be set up on the flat grassland in front of Rozelle House.
Toilet facilities will be on site but viewers are encouraged to go beforehand if possible.
And tickets will go on sale shortly after an expected Government announcement, available from www.theirisayr.com/
Ross said: “We’re looking at that sort of nostalgia of the eighties and nineties Jurassic Park and Grease.
“We’re looking at family films to begin with then more eighties sing alongs and then, at night, some cult classics.
“One of the films we’re looking to screen is The Lost Boys.
“If it’s a success we can look at other events for Halloween and Christmas.
“We want to make sure we get this one right first and make sure people are happy.”
Ross and his partner Kelly Craig are working hard to turn the 1860 built Darlington Church, formerly known at the Borderline Theatre, into a community arts venue hosting theatre and live music.
The Iris team are working alongside South Ayrshire Council and sponsors Ayrshire Magazine to ensure Ayr gets a slice of the drive-in action, usually kept for the big cities.
Ross added: “I run a cinema in Glasgow as well and I see absolutely no reason why we can’t replicate that here. I moved here for university but I took the town to my heart and I’m really pleased to bring something to the town.”