Drive-In Movie Night at Home
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Although we are adhering to current guidelines in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we didn’t want it to keep us from having fun and creating memories for our daughter, Lucy. Settling into our new “normal,” we knew we had to get creative and find safe ways to do things that we normally enjoy as a family. The weather has been great, which is perfect for at-home versions of favorite family activities.
We came up with the idea to create a DIY Drive-In movie night for Lucy. While planning, we knew it was a must for our daughter to fully experience the drive-in, complete with sitting in a colorful cardboard “truck” and all the usual fixings of a movie night catered to Lucy’s favorite snacks and treats. We set out to give her the best drive-in movie experience ever, just in time to watch Trolls 2 as a family with homemade chili cheese dogs, popcorn, and licorice!
Our drive-in menu was inspired by one of Lucy’s favorite foods: hot dogs! They were an absolute MUST, but we wanted to take it a couple steps further. We purchased brioche hot dog buns, nitrate-free hot dogs, cheddar cheese, onions, and even drove to Wendy’s to pick up some of their chili to top them off! For the adult chili cheese dogs, we also added some sweet jalapeños for a little spice. If your child is up for it, feel free to add it to theirs as well! We paired our hearty chili cheese dogs with homemade, air-fryer French fries and a couple of sweet treats – kettle corn and Red Vines – to complement all the savory menu items.
For the main attraction, the movie set-up, we used a projector we already had on hand for work! Our projector is an affordable option that we purchased from Amazon for about $120. For the screen, we utilized our patio framing to hang a light-colored Queen bedsheet using 3 clamps at the top and baker’s twine to tie the bottom ends to the frame. As a finishing touch, we grabbed a few blankets and cushions to make it cozier. Coupled with our DIY cardboard truck, we had created the perfect drive-in experience for our little Lucy. It was amazing!
Throughout the process, we kept Lucy VERY involved. We consulted her about the menu and what she would like to eat to go along with a movie night. She was involved with everything, including painting the color of the truck. As we watched the sunset before the movie began, we let her play in the truck and her imagination ran wild. She kept calling it her ice cream truck, and even tried to sell us food from it!
This DIY night was not only a great opportunity to watch a sweet movie as a family, but also a chance for mom and dad to spend time together working on a project. It also gave our daughter the opportunity to get a little messy, have fun, and get creative.
Follow along with our steps below to create your own cardboard truck for a DIY drive-in you and your rascals can enjoy. Add your own spin to the menu, decor, and experience, making sure to include some of your child’s favorite things!
Supplies Needed:
Cardboard (the amount will depend on the size and type of car you would like to make)
Roll of masking tape, preferably 2” wide
Exacto knife
Permanent marker
Washable paint
Paint brushes and sponges
Paper plates
Optional, but recommended: large tarp to lay out on the floor while painting
Directions
Research and sketch out what type of car you and your little one would like to create. Take into consideration the amount of cardboard you have at your disposal. We personally have had a lot of deliveries recently, so we had plenty of cardboard. We also knew we wanted to build the truck around the Nugget cushion we had since Lucy would sit in the truck during the movie, which gave us a pretty good idea of what size we wanted.
Draw lines for each panel of the car/truck using your permanent marker.
Use the Exacto knife to cut each piece along the lines.
Gather the painting supplies and let your child’s imagination run free! We painted the base a color that Lucy chose – which was the same color of her dad’s truck – and then let her decorate as she wished.
Let the paint dry and assemble the car/truck. We also added accessories, such as wheels, a license plate, and steering wheel.
Have fun! Go wild!
By Catherine Cindy Leo of CCL Weddings and Events. Mother of 1 rascal, age 2.5.
