Drive-In Event Draws Strong Community Turnout

April 8, 2026 | 0 Comments

The City of Hamilton is thanking the community for turning Fresh Air Films: Drive-In Edition into another memorable evening of entertainment, family fun, and support for local businesses.

A spokesperson said, “”Held on Saturday, April 4 at City Hall Car Park, the popular drive-in event welcomed nearly 500 attendees across over 200 vehicles, with many moviegoers choosing to stay for both feature presentations.

“The double-feature evening began with Despicable Me 4 at 6:30 p.m., followed by Jurassic World: Rebirth at 9:00 p.m.

“As part of the City’s continued effort to drive foot traffic and spending in Hamilton, admission required a receipt of $25 or more from any City business, dated between March 1 and April 4. The initiative generated $12,784.69 in submitted receipts, representing spending across a wide range of City businesses including retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, takeaway outlets, and pharmacies. Notably, a significant number of receipts submitted for the second screening were from City restaurants dated the same day as the event, suggesting many attendees made a full evening of it by dining in Hamilton before the movie.

“The evening’s success continues to demonstrate the value of creative City activations that bring people into Hamilton while directly benefiting local businesses. By linking admission to same-season spending, the event not only delivered a unique entertainment experience but also generated measurable economic activity for the City’s retail and hospitality sectors.”

Senior Events Coordinator Lorna Hayward said, “We are thrilled with how the evening went. The turnout was incredible, and it was wonderful to once again bring entertainment into the heart of Hamilton while directly supporting our businesses. Events like this create opportunities for families and friends to enjoy quality time together while also encouraging shopping and dining in the City. We are especially grateful to our wonderful vendors Food Hub, Sousa’s Spring Rolls, Specialty Cinema, and Ashley’s Lemonade for helping make the evening so special.”

A spokesperson added, “Attendees also enjoyed a variety of giveaways and prizes throughout the night with younger guests receiving dinosaur egg giveaways ahead of the Jurassic World: Rebirth screening.

“Prize highlights included raffle giveaways of a JBL Encore Speaker with two microphones and a dual dash cam, while Kahoot game winners received a one-year Platinum Car Wash Certificate donated by Auto Solutions and two tickets to the 2026 Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix, taking place May 9–10.

“The event was proudly presented by SailGP, whose support helped make the community evening possible. To mark approximately one month until the 2026 Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix, SailGP also treated audiences to two episodes of Uncharted, its long-form documentary series that takes fans behind the scenes of the sport.

“The City now looks ahead to the next Fresh Air Films experience on June 20 at Point Pleasant Park, where the popular summer series will continue with another evening designed to bring the community together in one of Hamilton’s most scenic outdoor spaces.

“The City thanks all residents, visitors, sponsors, vendors, and City businesses who contributed to another successful Fresh Air Films experience.”