The Huntley board of trustees unanimously approved a motion for the Walmart supercenter off State Route 47 to host a series of drive-in movies on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22.
During the July 23 village board meeting, the assembled trustees took only five minutes to listen to, discuss, and vote on the motion.
The Huntley location will be among 160 Walmart supercenters across 26 states to host a pair of movies. Aimed at attracting families, the screenings include both classic films and newer box office hits. “Wonder Woman” will be screening on the 21st, and “The LEGO Movie” will be shown the following evening. Both films are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
If ticket sales are anything to go by, the events should prove popular. Online tickets to both movies, offered through the Walmart website, are sold out. However, it is this popularity that had one trustee concerned about the logistics of managing so many vehicles in one place.
Trustee Ronda Goldman said she was concerned about how Walmart will monitor the expected flow of traffic when moviegoers enter and exit the parking lot.
“We do not know Walmart’s security system [or] protocols for an event like this,” she said. “I love that Walmart is treating workers and special guests to a family-friendly movie and treats but no one from Walmart showed up at our meeting to allay my concerns.”
Goldman also speculated individuals might park at one of the restaurants nearby and watch the movie from there, adding even more to the expected traffic off a major highway.
The plans presented by Walmart to the board of trustees called for 75 cars with a minimum distance between them of eight feet, all to be supervised and directed by event staffers. Staggered viewing would give attendees an optimized view of the 33-by-19-foot screen, and there is to be a 20-minute window for leaving the lot while credits are rolling.
For those who missed out on tickets to this movie event, the 1st Fridays in the Square event on September 4 will feature a drive-in screening of “Grease” at the Union Special parking lot.
