Drive-ins are now making a comeback, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has necessitated social distancing and precautionary measures to contain and avoid the spread of the virus. Keeping everyone in their vehicles enables people to practice social distancing without jeopardising the health of those who aren’t in their stay at home “family”. While theatres have been closed temporarily, it seems much simpler to allow the viewer to be responsible for their own environment then having to fastidiously clean cinemas between screenings.
Outdoor screenings have become popular with the Galileo Open-Air Cinema being one of the star attractions in the Mother City. The idea is quite simple, encouraging moviegoers to bring their own picnic and enjoy a big screen film under the stars. Thanks to the temperate weather in Cape Town, this is quite possible between November and April when the weather is warm enough to be outdoors most evenings. What makes Cape Town even more predisposed to these events, is the great many tourism venues and beautiful backdrops from which to arrange the screenings. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Durbanville’s Hillcrest Quarry, the Castle of Good Hope, the Cape Winelands, the V&A Waterfront… there are many wonderful spaces where the Galileo Open Air Cinema takes place.
Selling tickets online via webtickets, you can book your spot on the grass and gain entrance to what really is a full evening event. Scanning your ticket at the gate or trying to buy one on the night, which is a bit more risky especially for the more popular screenings, this is a leisurely and excellent excuse to gather a few friends together for movie night. The hosts ensure that you have everything you need for movie night. You’re welcome to bring a picnic, or you can take full advantage of the wide range of vendors selling their delicious food and drink on the night. Tickets are sold with the option of prepaying for your backrest and a blanket with the VIP ticket including popcorn a drink and best seats in the “house”.
The film selection is essentially familiar favourites, curating a list of popular, re-watchable classics mostly with the addition of a few newer releases each year. Back to the Future, Dirty Dancing, Love Actually… there are a few titles that keep making an appearance but for the most part the slate of movies is reasonably fresh. Opening the gates in the early evening about an hour or two before it gets dark, enables you to arrive early, book your picnic spot, meet with friends or even play a few lawn or board games to keep yourself entertained.
As it gets close to dark, the movie screen displays some information as well as adverts and trivia games to keep you guessing. Set at these spectacular venues it’s a great excuse to get out in nature and while you have to rent your backrest and blanket the cost is not that much more than a traditional movie night at the cinemas. The festival feel of these events is welcome, enabling you to grab a plate of nachos, pizza, curry or refill your popcorn and grab a few sweet treats.
It’s a good idea to be ready for a change in temperature or if the wind or a light rain happens to interrupt your evening. While blanket and backrest are provided, the ground can get hard after a few hours and it’s so good idea to include a cushion. This is a darling of a Cape Town experience because it wraps a number of activities all into one evening. Being at one of Cape Town’s celebrated venues, enjoying the festivity of the food market, picnicking with friends and catching a great movie under the stars make it a real winner. This is probably why the experience has received so many so much free press over the years.
Unfortunately for the Galileo, the closure of theatres and limitations around public gatherings have also forced them to close their doors for now. While winter is a normal time for them to remain shut, early speculation suggests that they may not be able to open come November this year. Perhaps they will convert their offering into more of a drive-in style movie experience. This would also make sense in as much as people would be able to watch films in all kinds of weather not just during this season. Still it remains to be seen and while it may not be possible to enjoy a Galileo guest quest at present, it’s worthwhile making at least one visit when they do eventually reopen.
One word review: Magical
Venues: Kirstenbosch, V&A Waterfront, Century City, Cape Winelands
Gates open 6pm, Movie Starts After Sunset