When the sun sets earlier, drive-in showtimes move earlier. As a parent, I love this phenomenon so much! The earliest winter showtimes are before dinnertime, while the summer shows begin after bedtime. Check the website as the times change with the sunset. You know your kids best.
Notes from a family visit to drive-in movies in Concord
We love piling the family into our minivan and heading to the drive-in movies in Concord at the Solano West Wind. Yes, it’s a haul, but also a ton of fun. Though I think of outdoor movies as a summer thing, it gets dark so late in the warm months that I’d never actually take my kids. (We keep bedtimes consistently early in my house.) During the darkest months, shows start around 5:30 pm, so it’s the perfect time to go.
The kids loved sitting in the car, huddled under a blanket in pajamas, watching a movie screen OUTSIDE. The six-year-old sat in his booster, and the four-year-old sat beside him. The baby was passed from adult lap to adult lap, and his cries didn’t bother the other moviegoers. I was so excited to share one of my fun teenage memories with a minivan full of children and the experience did not disappoint. The price for a whole family is a pretty good deal, too.
What to know about the West Wind drive-in movies
Check the website for both gate-opening and movie-starting times. On weekend evenings, the box office opens 45 minutes before showtime. Come early to park and grab food at the concession stand. There is also a decent playground. Since I had already stuck my kids in pajamas before venturing out, I didn’t let them play (mean mom, I know!). We did, however, indulge in all manner of junk food at the snack bar. Hot dogs, nachos, ice cream, technicolor slushies, candy, and huge buckets of popcorn (with free refills!) are available.
The lot is ridged so every car points slightly upward toward the screen, giving good views all around. Many other families parked backward and sat in lawn chairs or in their SUV trunks with blankets.
The movie audio runs through your FM radio, so you’ll need to have one.
Pro tip: turn your engine on every 30 minutes or so to keep the battery from dying. They do have a jump kit in the main office if you need one. And we did.
Lessons learned at the drive-in
Next time, I would probably pack a picnic dinner and build in time for the kids to run and play at the playground before putting on their jammies for the movie. And I would turn on my ignition a few times…
Plan your visit to the drive-in in Concord
Pricing:
- General Admission (age 12+): $11.50
- Kids (5-11): $3 | Under 4: Free
- Family Fun Night on Tuesdays: Adults: $8.50 | Kids: $3
- Occasional FREE customer appreciation showings too!
Website to check schedule & buy tix >
Location: 1611 Solano Way, Concord, CA
