Drive-in movie season arrives Friday. What's playing at Waterford's Sunset Drive In?

Drive-in movie season is on the horizon, and the Sunset Drive In is reeling in some new films for the 2024 season starting this weekend.

Friday marks the start of outdoor movie season at Sunset Drive In at 808 Route 97 in Waterford.

Sunset is the only drive-in theater in Erie County. The next nearest drive-in, according to DriveInMovie.com, is Van Buren Drive-In in Dunkirk, New York.

The drive-in will start the season with a double premier of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” These films will run from Friday through Sunday.

Gates open at 7 p.m. each day and the featured films will begin at dusk.

Margaret Koper, who has co-owned the drive-in since 1986, is hoping for another successful season.

“I hope we have a really good season,” Koper said. “There are some good movies coming out and everybody should come out and have some fun.”

The drive-in lot can fit 150 cars each night. Koper said she typically sees a full lot each evening.

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What are the admission rates?

Admission is $10 for ages 12 and up and $5 for ages 7 through 11. Anyone under the age of 6 will be admitted for free.

Visitors are advised to bring cash as the business is cash only.

How does the drive-in choose what plays on the big screen?

Ever wonder how the drive-in picks the featured films for the week?

“I have an agent that books them,” Koper said. “He’s really good. He tells me what’s going to move and what’s not going to move.”

Koper’s agent only plans a week ahead in order to keep the films up to trend so they can attract customers all season.

Drive-in season will conclude in September.

Also this weekend: Flagship City Comedy Fest returns to Erie for second year with new lineup of headliners

Don’t forget about the flea market

The Sunset Drive-In also offers a flea market that runs on Sundays from 6:30 a.m. until noon.

“We have quite a few vendors as the field is almost filled with vendors,” Koper said. “Anything from clothes to tools to toys or anything you can find out here.”

You can learn more about the flea market and the drive-in online at facebook.com/sunsetflea.

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Contact Nicholas Sorensen at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Waterford PA's Sunset Drive-In prepares for season of outdoor movies