Registration Opens For Lacey's Drive-In Movie

LACEY, NJ — Lacey Recreation ha settled on a drive-in movie. They will show "The Goonies" at 7:30 p.m. July 31 at Jones Road Field.

Space is limited and only open to Lacey residents. Fill out this form to register.

New Jersey's indoor movie theaters have been closed since March because of the coronavirus. In the absence of typical theaters, drive-in experiences have popped up throughout.

The popularity of drive-in theaters peaked in the late 1950s and early '60s, with more than 4,000 drive-ins in the United States in 1958, according to Smithsonian Magazine. But the venues have experienced a steady decline, with only 305 operating as of October, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

But gatherings of vehicles for drive-in movies are no longer a violation of Gov. Phil Murphy's executive orders, he announced May 13. Cars must stay at least 6 feet apart, with windows remaining closed. Read more: Gov. Phil Murphy To Reopen More NJ Businesses Amid Coronavirus

As a result, many temporary drive-in venues have popped up around Ocean County. That includes the Lighthouse International Film Festival's first drive-in event on Long Beach Island. Read more: Long Beach Island Film Festival Goes To Drive-In Format

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Lacey Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.