Review: Galileo Drive-In Brings Movie Magic to Cape Town Suburbs
The Galileo Open Air Cinema is hands down one of my favourite things to do in Cape Town during the summer months. Sadly, in the past, when the cooler weather rolled around, the travelling cinema had to go into hibernation mode. I’m not a big fan of winter, so all winter long I’d be counting down the days until summer returned, eagerly awaiting the announcement of Galileo’s summer movie line-up.
But 2021 is full of surprises, and I’m excited to share that The Galileo Open Air Cinema has officially announced that ‘seasons’ are a thing of the past. Yes indeed, the outdoor cinema is now open year-round, thanks to the new and improved Galileo Drive-In. This exciting addition to the Galileo offering means movie fans no longer need to wait for the summer months to watch their favourite flicks outdoors at some of the Mother City’s most picturesque venues.
The drive-in screenings will be offered in winter as a wet weather alternative to the classic Galileo Picnic offering that has become synonymous with summer in Cape Town. But the excitement doesn’t stop there, fans can look forward to fun themes like ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Christmas in July’ which will offer plenty of excuses for you to dress up, deck out your car and tap into the festivities.
Previously weather-dependent, the other positive of this year-round evolution of your favourite outdoor cinema now means that come rain, sunshine or snow – the show will go on! Cosy up with blankets and convert your boot into your own private snuggle-pad. Make weekends stuck indoors a thing of the past and enjoy an unforgettable movie experience every week at a venue near you!
What’s more, each screening will also give movie-goers the chance to win a mystery prize for whoever has added a little extra effort and sparkle into their family fun or date nights. Check out The Galileo’s Instagram and Facebook pages for some ideas and previous award-worthy setups.
The Galileo Open Air Cinema’s drive-in option provides an evening of fun for family and friends, with a range of movies to suit all ages and interests. Enjoy a social, yet Covid-friendly evening for birthday parties, book clubs, family reunions, date nights and so much more!
A winter wonderland experience
The boyfriend and I were invited to experience the new Galileo drive-in for a screening of the romantic comedy ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ at Vredenhof Sports Fields in Rondebosch. We decided to go all out for the night and kit out the back of our Suzuki Jimny 4×4 with all the movie magic essentials including a foam mattress, pillows, plenty of blankets, and, of course, snacks.
We arrived at the venue and were ushered through the drive-through check-in kiosk where we collected the Butlers pizza we had pre-ordered online. We were then guided to our parking spot by the friendly ushers who made sure we were in the perfect position to see the movie from the boot of our car. We arrived when the gates opened at 17:30 to soak up the ambience of the event and ensure we got a good spot before the movie started at 19:00.
While we waited for the movie to start, a snack cart did the rounds offering all sorts of delicious goodies including sweets and chocolates (R20), popcorn (R30), cold drinks (R20), and hot drinks like hot chocolate and coffee (R20). The cart accepts cash and snap-to-pay app payments.
We parked backwards and set up our boot as a cosy couch, but guests are also welcome to sit outside their car on camping chairs (as long as you keep 1.5m between you and the next car), or park facing forwards to enjoy the film from their front seats. Before we knew it, the movie was about to begin, so we tuned our car radio to the provided frequency and settled in for a night of laughter under the stars. If you don’t have a radio in your car, you can also rent one for just R40 (cash only).
The Galileo drive-in experience was simply magical. I’ve been a fan of The Galileo picnic cinema since it launched many years ago but, after experiencing the drive-in offering I’ve been converted! There’s just something about the nostalgia of a drive-in experience that can’t be beat. Plus, having your car right there with you makes packing up after the movie so much easier. If you’re looking for an incredible date night to wow your significant other or simply want to treat the family to a fun night out then The Galileo Open Air Cinema drive-in won’t disappoint.
What to watch this winter:
Watch out for some exciting movies on the line-up this winter, including:
The Holiday | The Cape Academy, Constantia – 20 June 2021 (Father’s Day)
Black Panther | Meridian Pinehurst, Durbanvill – 9 July 2021
The Fault In Our Stars | The Cape Academy, Constantia – 16 July 2021
The Secret Garden | Vredenhof Sports Fields, Rondebosch – 31 July 2021
Aladdin | Jan Van Riebeeck Sportveld, Tamboerskloof – 21 August 2021
Check out the full winter line-up here.
Ticket Pricing:
2 Person Car: R250 (equates to R125pp)
3 Person Car: R330 (equates to R110pp)
4 Person Car: R390 (equates to R98pp)
5 Person Car: R430 (equates to R86pp)
6 Person Car: R450 (equates to R75pp)
For more information on the Galileo Drive-In, visit The Galileo Open Air Cinema website.
