Starlight Drive-in co-owner Paul Lindquist stands in front of North America's biggest outdoor cinema screen.

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

It's been a rough week for the folks and Enderby's Starlight drive-in, but things are looking a bit better today.

"We have received permission to operate our concession, and are working hard to get it up and running for tonight's show and for the weekend so you won't have to bring your own snacks," the Starlight team, updated their followers through their Facebook page today, May 28.

When COVID-19 first swept through, the drive-in wasn't sure how it would proceed.

It ended up creating a large space around vehicles, which basically halved their 200-plus capacity to 100.

Then last week provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that all drive-ins, no exceptions, would be restricted to 50 cars. The concession was off the books, too. At the time of the announcement, the drive-in team said they didn't think the rule applied to them but quickly learned otherwise.

It might have been one of the more contentious orders to have come down and immediately after a Change.org petition was created, asking that the drive-in order should be reconsidered and given an exemption from the Ministry of Health, so long as social distancing policies were put in place.

That petition now has 20,051 signatures.

Regardless of what happens, though, the Starlight has a simple message.

"Please come to our shows. We are open five nights this coming weekend and will add more nights if and when the current nights are sold out. Your continued attendance during this difficult time will help us to return to regular operations when permitted to do so," read on notice on the Starlight Drive-in's website.

Owner Paul Lindquist said in an earlier interview with iNFOnews.ca that the screen is roughly 60-feet tall, which is the equivalent of a six-storey building.

At 6,000-square feet, it's is the biggest drive-in movie screen in North America. That fact alone is remarkable, but what's more remarkable is that the drive-in theatre exists at all.

It's one of only three in the province and Lindquist estimates there's probably less than a dozen in the entire country.

For availability, showtimes and online ticketing you can check out the Starlight Drive-in website here.

You must purchase your tickets in advance. They will add additional nights as needed. It is important that right now, with the cap on the number of vehicles, they fill those 50 spots every night they are open.

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