Grand Sunset Theatre opens in Grande Prairie. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

Grande sunset theatre

Grande Sunset Theatre opens up at Evergreen Park

Jun 27, 2020 | 5:00 AM

After weeks of planning, the Grande Sunset Theatre at Evergreen Park opened up for the first time on Friday night to a crowd of just over 45 vehicles.

The Grande Sunset Theatre was launched following several movie nights hosted at Bullets and Broadheads, in partnership with the Revolution Auto Group and EchoAVU.

The drive-in movie nights were well attended, so the partners teamed up with Evergreen Park to build what they hope could be a permanent drive-in theatre in the Grande Prairie area.

Lionel Robins is one of the founders of the Grande Sunset Theatre. He says he’s encouraged by the crowd that came out on Friday night.

“It’s a nice night, it’s a summer night so I think as we get a little colder and as the sun goes down later in the season we are going to see more and more cars, but for right now we are pretty happy.”

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In order to create the Grande Sunset Theatre, a massive screen had to be built so vehicles could see the movie. Robins says the screen came together quickly.

“We got the screen built in six days from one of our other founding partners, Moe from GSL Construction. We have 14-foot screw panels, a full metal framework and a 45-foot diagonal screen, it was a massive project done in a week.

A unique bit about the Grande Sunset Theatre is that all proceeds raised go towards local charities in the Grande Prairie region. On Friday, the money raised from the month of May was presented to the following charities on Friday night:

• $954.54 for Ronald McDonald House.
• $954.29 for Big Brothers Big Sisters
• $954.29 for Regional EMS
• $477.15 for Traditional Path Society.

Photo: Shane Clausing

With a permanent location now in place, the theatre plans to show movies every weekend until October 31.

As of Friday night, according to organizers, the Grande Sunset Theatre became the first outdoor theatre in the Province of Alberta where AHS (Alberta Health Services) allowed guests to get out of their vehicles and use portable washroom facilities.

According to the organizers, other facilities across the province have not been allowed to use portable washrooms because of the concern of cleanliness standards not being met. The drive-in theatre was able to meet those standards and got the thumbs up.

Washrooms, however, must be cleaned after every use.

Next week the theatre will be broadcasting Big Hearts for Big Kids on Tuesday, June 30, which is a virtual benefit concert hosted by Grande Prairie native Tenille Townes, in support of the Sunrise House Youth Emergency Shelter.

On Thursday the new theatre also played host to the Peace Wapiti Academy High School graduation.

Robins says that the theatre is also looking into doing more than just movies , and concerts and other experiences could be coming within the next couple of months.

“We actually have a live concert coming but I can’t say who it is yet, but it will announced shortly, but they will preforming on the stage at the drive-in theatre near the end of July. It will be a country artist that is doing a tour, we are definitely using this as an event centre, not just a movie theatre.”

On Saturday, June 27 the theatre will be showing the movie Grease. Robins tells EverythingGP that they sold just over 50 tickets for the showing on Saturday night, and adds that he expects more people to buy tickets prior to the show.

Tickets can be bought by clicking here or at the gate. Proceeds raised for the showings this weekend are going to the Friendship Centre of Grande Prairie.