Eventbrite predicts boom for 2021’s drive-in events
Drive-in events like cinemas are experiencing a blockbuster rise in popularity this Spring.
Ticketing and event platform Eventbrite has witnessed a 300 per cent increase in drive-in events listed from March to April. Sales are ramping up for May too.
But films aren’t the only game in town as drive-in church services, bingo, karaoke and comedy are on the outdoor agenda as well.
Eventbrite is predicting drive-in events are set to explode in popularity again this spring and summer as restrictions on indoor cinemas opening will remain until at least May 17.
Spokesman Sebastian Boppert said: “We noticed last year that in most months the terms ‘drive-in’ and ‘outdoor cinemas’ were the most searched-for event formats on our site. They’re becoming increasingly popular again now as people look to get out and about again.”
Companies like CH Cinema, which puts shows on Eventbrite, has big plans for outdoor films this year. Regional events manager Gerald Hayford said: “We have 250 drive-in events planned between April and December 2021, as they were so successful last year. In fact, they’re going that well that in some venues we are installing permanent screens.
“We make the experiences exciting. For example, we improve on the usual cinema experience by asking people to get dressed up and introducing initiatives like a sing-off-challenge from the cars, using disposable mics, with other drivers having to beep their horns for the best singers.
“There are other types of events we hold too, such as in-car karaoke, comedy and bingo so there’s something for every taste as we come out of lockdown. It really supports local businesses, too. Last year we launched the ‘Watch Out to Help Out’ scheme; so the venue gets income through the hire and local restaurants can get revenue from supplying the food and drink.”
Last summer, when
lockdown restrictions were temporarily eased, drive-in quickly became the event phenomenon of 2020, next to online events.
Between March and December 2020, the number of drive-in events on Eventbrite grew more than 50-fold, with over 2,000 drive-in events for more than 125,000 people. Drive-in cinema events were consistently, month after month, the most searched for event type on Eventbrite in the UK last year. It reached its peak in the run up to Christmas in December, when Eventbrite registered close to 50,000 people attend around 1,000 events in the comfort of their vehicles.
Sebastian continued: “Drive-in events are perfect for those people who want to cautiously come out of lockdown, enjoying entertainment, with the very clear social distancing measures that come from being in your
own vehicle. August used to be our busiest month for drive-in events, but there’s been an explosion in events listed and demand is picking up as our creators list events that will get bored people looking to get out and about again while staying safe.”
Drive-in events have also kept businesses going during lockdown by pivoting into the sector.
Shine Cinema director Craig Jones said: “We normally rent our equipment direct to event organisers but, when they closed, we diversified and moved into the drive-in market. We did four events last year and have six planned for this year.”
Shine held one such event in Worcester in April, which featured six screenings over the weekend April 16 to 18. It catered for children in the day and adults and older children in the evening with films like Grease.