On a warm summer night in the 1960s, long before Netflix and HBO, I would hop in a car with family or friends and head to the Harvest Moon drive-in theater. Once there, we would crank down the driver’s window, hook a speaker over the glass, grab some snacks and settle in for movie night under the stars.
While many of my youthful haunts have gone the way of my flexibility, the Harvest Moon in Gibson City still is entertaining families. Opened in 1954, the theater ranks No. 3 in USA Today’s Best Drive-in Theaters of 2026.
The citation lists the theater hosting such events as Easter egg hunts, retro luaus and kids’ carnivals. Another online ranking, the Tourist Checklist, says the owners’ “commitment to providing not just movies, but a full-fledged entertainment experience” and the spacious and well-maintained parking area with unobstructed views contribute to the success.
Drive-ins seemed to hit their heyday in the 1940s through the 1960s with the increase in car ownership and the birth of Baby Boomers. Home entertainment options spelled their decline beginning in the 1970s.
Those remaining, such as Harvest Moon and others in central Illinois, capitalize on Boomer memories, improved audio quality and special events to draw viewers.
“A lot of the draw is nostalgia because the theaters remind people of when they were kids, especially the older people,” says Kylee Hardt, manager of Litchfield’s Skyview Drive-in. “They really like reminiscing.
“For the younger generation, it is about keeping the culture alive and paying homage to history,” she adds.
Springfield had several drive-in theaters preceding the Route 66 Drive-in Theater, next to Knight’s Action Park since 2002. The theater boasts two screens with double headers Wednesday through Sunday in the summer and on weekends in spring and fall. Admission ($10 for adults, $6 for 4-12 and free for 3 and younger) is good for both features on one screen.
The 100th anniversary of Route 66 this year is sure to add to the south Springfield drive-in’s popularity. The same is true for the Skyview in Litchfield.
Opened in 1950, the Skyview claims to be the oldest continuous operating drive-in on the Mother Road. Hardt says the theater will celebrate the centennial on Oct.10 with a vendor fair, an Elvis impersonator, a car show and two related movies. Already this year several Route 66 tours have visited.
The theater shows two movies on Friday and Saturday nights with an admission price of $7 per person for both shows. The lot can hold 800 cars for the two screens with an average of 100-200 cars on a typical night to 500 on a busy one. A full concession stand, special events and audio through a car speaker system or battery-operated radios add to the drive-in’s success.
“We try to do a lot of special events such as vendor fairs, Christmas in July and a pickle fest with pickle-themed food and merchandise,” Hardt says. Tractor and classic car collectors have gathered on the grounds as have Harry Potter fans for special days.
Belleville also has a drive-in named Skyview, started in 1949. Storms destroyed various parts over the years but the theater rebuilt and endures with two screens each showing double features. Movies start at dark seven days a week during the summer. In spring and fall, the theater is open on weekends only.
It also got a nod in the USA Today’s Best Drive-in Theaters for 2026, coming in at No. 5, and hosts film festivals and live music.
Most drive-in theaters require drivers to turn off their lights and engines, never honk car horns, respect other patrons and park high-rise vehicles in the back. Those with playgrounds close them once the movie starts, allowing viewers to sit back, enjoy a night under the stars and feast on snacks – and nostalgia.
Mary Bohlen of Springfield enjoys traveling down Memory Lane and writing about it for IT.
This article appears in July 2, 2026.
