Big E Sets Opening Date For New Drive-In Movie Theater

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA — Movie lovers along Connecticut's northern tier will have a drive-in option starting next month at a popular fairgrounds across the Massachusetts border.

It called the The West Springfield Drive-In, a movie theater being set up in partnership with Eastern States Exposition. Opening day is slated for April 23.

Big E President and CEO Gene Cassidy called the fairgrounds, "the perfect setting for a drive-in theater. Some may recall the Memorial Drive-In, just down the street. We are delighted to carry on that tradition of safe, family fun."

The Big E is working with FestEvents on the project.

The drive-in will feature a pair of 45- by-60-foot screens, and the lots will have capacities of 300 cars each.

The setup is designed for social distancing, officials said.

The drive-in will be located at the Big E's Gate 9 parking area. The scheduled calls for movie to be shown on weekends through the end of spring, and then daily during the summer season through Labor Day.

The screens will go black during the Big E run — Sept. 17 to Oct. 3 — and they will be back from October through December for "holiday-themed" showings.

Movies will be announced weekly and ticket sales will be available at the time of the announcement, officials said.

The theater venue will include a concession stand with popcorn and traditional fair foods.

"We are pleased to bring this safe and socially distant family experience to the residents of West Springfield and the surrounding communities," said EJ Dean, the president of FestEvents. "During the global pandemic, we successfully operated several drive-in theaters across the state of Massachusetts and we are grateful our partner, the Eastern States Exposition, is maximizing the use of the fairground space for the benefit of those in the community."