In the chilly night air on a weekend in October, in Gibson City, people from all over Champaign County and neighboring cities come to the Harvest Moon Drive-In to watch both scary and fun filled movies that fit the spooky atmosphere of the month.
For several weekends in September and October the Harvest Moon Drive-In, normally open all week during the summer months, hosts Halloween themed filled nights including deliciously themed snacks, both scary and family friendly movies, costume contests during the movies’ intermissions, and pre-movie trunk or treating for little kids.
These weekends, known as Halloween at the Harvest Moon, are an offshoot of the drive-ins Frightfest Events which were originally a one and down event that took place in September as a way to celebrate Halloween early since normally the drive-in closed after September and wouldn’t be able to participate in the Halloween spirit.
Now, because of the original success of a one weekend celebration that started in 2012, the idea has grown into a roughly two month celebration of all things Halloween and Fall featuring a Frightfest Weekend, a Wizarding Weekend, Wicked Weekends, Slashfest, and more.
This drive-in, being open for roughly 60 decades with a small break in the 70’s when the current owners’ father, Michael Harroun, bought the business. Ever since then it has been run as a family by the Harrouns.
Now, brothers Ben and Will Harroun are co-owners of the outdoor movie theater and have spent most of their lives working there and striving to provide a wonderful experience to all who visit. Will has even met his longtime girlfriend at the drive-in when she also worked there.
In order to help further bring the business into the 21st century, the Harrouns have started adding special themed events to the movies. During the spring they hold a large and free Easter Egg hunt, and throughout the season, a Luau Party, an event called “April Ghouls”, anniversary and birthday celebrations marking the opening of the drive-in, 80s flashback, hits of the season, comedy weekends, concerts and to close out the year, Holiday movie nights in November and December.
“Our dad opened the theater so that families would have something safe and fun to do while making memories, and we’ve taken that mantra to the next level to deliver the best features of the drive-in experience with more activities to enhance the memory making factor,” Ben Harroun said on their thoughts behind the efforts to revamp the experience for customers.
Harvest Moon is now one of only eight drive-ins left in the state of Illinois and has been voted one of the top ten drive-ins in the US for the past fourteen years.
For the upcoming Christmas season, the drive-in is hosting Christmas themed weekends for two weekends each month during November and December. November 18th and 19th the movies “The Grinch” and “A Christmas Story” will be playing and the following weekend will be playing “Elf” and “Christmas Vacation”. Some of the same movies will be playing in December on the 2nd and 3rd and again on the 9th and 10th.
Much like the Halloween events, these Christmas weekends will feature fun themed activities such as a Santa meet and greet, a Grinch meet and greet, hot chocolate and cider, Christmas music and Christmas lights as well as photo areas for fun photo ops.
For more information on these upcoming events and how to purchase tickets you can check out the Harvest Moon Drive-In website. Or you can go to their Facebook page.
