BRACKLEY, P.E.I. — Normally at this time of year, the owner of the Brackley Drive-In would be getting ready to fire up the film projector and show movies on the giant screen.
However, Bob Boyle finds himself planning to host potential school graduations, concerts and even weddings.
In the past few weeks, Boyle has been contacted by one Island high school, two home and school associations, a variety of Island musicians and one wedding planner.
Such is life in a pandemic where physical distancing rules are the norm and movie studios have all but cancelled releases until mid- to late-summer.
“The last couple of weeks, it’s just kind of snowballed with the innovative requests to utilize the drive-in in a safe way, in a social distance way going forward into the season ... ways that I never thought of," Boyle said.
Regardless of what events he ends up hosting, parking will be staggered to create at least 10 feet between vehicles, and people will be required to stay in their vehicles unless they're going to the bathroom or canteen (limited service will be made available).
Boyle said the school and school parents who reached out wanted to know if holding a graduation at the drive-in would be possible. And, Boyle laid out the plan.
Through his partnership with the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders (Boyle handles concessions at Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown), Universum Media, which handles the live video feeds for the games as well as harness racing action for Red Shores, would film students as they go on stage to accept their diploma and broadcast the feed on the drive-in’s two big screens (one is currently under construction). Students would be lined up at least six feet apart on the property and required to go back to their family vehicle once they exit the stage.
“We’re very fortunate that our second drive-in screen is about to come online so that we can utilize that area as a staging area for the students," Boyle said.
AT A GLANCE
The owner of the Brackley Drive-In could be hosting graduations, concerts and weddings during the pandemic. This is how the scenarios might unfold:
- Graduations – Students would come with their families, lined up six feet apart, and receive their diploma on the stage, which would be broadcast on the big screens. Guests would watch from their vehicles.
- Concerts – These would be shows featuring P.E.I. artists. The audience would watch from their vehicle and listen through the drive-in’s standard FM transmission. Outdoor sound system would be disengaged to make sure people stay inside their vehicle.
- Weddings – One P.E.I. wedding planner is already working on setting things up. Weddings would take place on the main stage and be broadcast on screens. Guests would sit in their vehicles, and the happy couple waves to each vehicle as guests exit.
As for concerts, Boyle is open to hosting small local shows. P.E.I. fiddler Richard Wood, for example, has indicated an interest in performing. Shows would be broadcast through the drive-in’s regular FM transmission channel while the outdoor sound system would be turned off.
“It promotes people to stay in their car to enjoy the concert."
Boyle is also in the process of eliminating all outdoor seating, including the picnic tables and playground equipment.
Kristina Allen, a wedding planner who operates Elysian Weddings & Events in Bonshaw, said it would be a dream come true to organize weddings at the drive-in.
Allen, who is also a wedding commissioner, will waive the officiating portion of the fee to do weddings at the drive-in.
“The drive-in is one of my favourite places on the Island," Allen said, adding that if Boyle will do it she will make it happen.
She posted the idea on her Instagram account. Not only did she have couples reach out to her saying they would be interested, wedding vendors also jumped on board, offering discounts on their services.
Boyle said wedding guests would sit and watch the wedding from their vehicles, a slide show featuring the couple could be broadcast on the big screens and, instead of a receiving line at a traditional wedding, the couple simply stands near the exit and waves to all of their guests as the vehicles exit.
Boyle added that the entire wedding party could watch a movie afterwards.
Allen is even playing with the idea of hosting multiple weddings in a single day.
“I think it would definitely be a hit," she said.
“Each couple gets two hours ... line up a few in one day at the drive-in."
