FAQs & information

• Do you still show movies in the rain, storms and snow? Yes. Sometimes the theaters get a little muddy or sloppy, but we show in ALL weather conditions. The only weather reason we will cancel an event or show is due to heavy snow(we can't plow the lot with ramps), dangerous icy roads, severe weather that would imperil our patrons, or if we experience a power outage. 

• When are you open? We will be open weekends only(mainly Friday and Saturday nights) and have special events on many weekends to celebrate our 71st season when we reopen this April. We have many special events throughout the year including concerts, Luaus, Pickle Fest, Jeep Nights, our St. Jude Kid's Carnival, car cruise-in nights, Flashback weekends, our huge Frightfest celebration, Hot Chocolate & Holiday Movies events and many more. From Memorial Day through mid August, the Harvest Moon is open 7 nights a week for movies and events and available for private event rentals on most weeknights also.

• Should I bring my own battery-operated radio or just use the one in the car? If you are concerned that your car battery will run down, please bring a battery powered, portable FM radio. Apps on phones do not work unless your device has a built in FM antenna. We also sell and rent radios from our snack bar each night. Rentals are $5 for standard radios, $10 for premium boomboxes(very loud!) and we sell rechargeable radios for $35 each.
  
• What time does the gate open? Typically, the gate opens 1 hour prior to show time on most nights. However, we also open early on some special features/holidays or nights when large crowds are anticipated. We try to open by 6-7:30 pm depending on the time of year and day.
  
• Can we sit on top of the car or do I need to bring chairs? Please do not sit on top of your car. It's dangerous and blocks other's view of the screen. You are allowed to sit outside your vehicle in chairs or on blankets, as long as you are directly in front of or behind your car depending on how you park facing the screen. Sitting on top of the vehicle is prohibited by our insurance policy.

• Do you offer discounts for large groups? We do offer group discounts for larger groups(50+), and are happy to accommodate you. The theater is also available for private rental during the nights we are not open for regular business or special events. We also have options to accommodate groups on nights we are open for regular business with affordable and fun options.(Call  or email for special events or pricing specials for large groups-815-383-7509 or info@harvestmoondrivein.com) 
  
• Can I barbeque while we watch the movie? Yes you can grill before the show starts, but grills must be extinguished BEFORE the movie is onscreen. If you have a gas grill, take care to keep it in a safe area and prevent burns. If you have leftover charcoal coals, we have a burn barrel behind our dumpster to place hot coals in. Please do not leave them on the lot. Grilling may be prohibited for specific events or during burn ban periods.
  
• How many movies do I get to watch with my admission? All admissions are for 1 movie per night per ticket, unless we are hosting a special 'double feature' or 'triple feature' event. For 'Double Features' you get to enjoy 2 movies on a single screen for your admission price and a triple is the same. You are not required to stay for all features and can leave when you choose, but readmission may not be available and if it is, you must pay for a new admission to re-enter the theater once you've left.(This applies to driving or walking out of the theater grounds for ANY reason, unless you have an emergency and discuss it with our management at that time)
  
• How much is it to get in? Admission: $10 for adults(12 and older) - $8 for children 4 through 11- children under 4 are free. There are tickets available for all shows at the box office(cash, credit, debit, google/apple pay accepted), however we do recommend booking in advance for ease of mind and quicker entry. We allocate up to 75% of our parking to advance ticket sales and do sell out fast on high demand nights. Advance tickets have service fees on both ends with our provider and are shown on the purchase before you check out. Please read the terms and conditions on the online system or ask us any questions in advance.
  
• Are the movie times night shows only or daytime? We show the movies under the great big sky, so we have to wait until after the sun goes down to see the features. Even with bright digital pictures, you can't see the movie will the sun is still in the sky. During the spring, showtime is near 7:30-8:30 and closer to 9 pm during the summer months. Showtime in the fall is 6:30-7pm depending on the event and can be as early as 5:30 pm for our Winter shows in November and December.
  
• How do we get sound to hear the movies? We have HD digital FM transmitters so you can hear the audio through your car stereo! The better stereo you have in your vehicle, the better the sound*. You can also bring any FM radio or use one of our rentals to listen to the movies. We have a small number of events that we use loudspeakers for sound, and all movies use FM radio broadcast for sound. We keep up to 150 rental radios on hand for those that don't bring a radio with or want to use their car stereos.

* Some newer or high end vehicles have a delay in the audio due to the sound processors in their vehicles audio systems(Toyota, Lexus, BMW, Mercedes etc.) This will cause your sound to be slightly out of sync with the image on screen and can cause an echo effect with others listening near you.

• Do I have to stay for the entire movie? No, you may leave as you please. However, If you leave the grounds and then plan to come back in, you will be required to pay for another admission due to our insurance policy restrictions. 
  
• Can I bring my own food? Yes, bringing in your own food, drinks and snacks is allowed as long as you purchase a $5 food permit. Please realize the drive-in only survives on our food, drink and snack sales, so we appreciate it if you purchase items from the Snack Bar or Burger Barn during your visit. We work hard to keep our prices low and reasonable despite mounted expenses and this helps us to do so. The food permit also allows an option for those with food allergies, specific dietary needs and those that want to bring select items we don't offer while still helping to support the drive-in and a great charity organization. $1.00 from each Food Permit sold this season is going to benefit St. Jude's and Will Rogers charities. For groups sharing food between vehicles, EVERY VEHICLE must have a valid food permit displayed in the dash! Food permits apply to all drinks, snacks, or food items in the vehicle and the charge is for 1 permit per vehicle that has or uses outside food or beverages.
  
• Can our bring chairs or blankets to watch the movie outside of the car? What kind of chairs can I bring? Lawn chairs or folding lawn chairs are the best option, however the drive-in is a fun environment and we enjoy your creativity. We have seen hammocks, couches, living room sets, inflatables, swimming pools and more used for viewing. As long as your set up stays within the bounds of your parking space in front of your vehicle(or our lawn viewing areas under the screens) many options are fine. We do rent outdoor Adirondack style plastic chairs on a limited basis for $3 each, however we only have 20 available per night. We have a limited number of picnic tables on site also that are free to use, but must be left in the area they are at.
  
• Can I bring a camper to the drive in? Yes, we do allow oversized vehicles on weeknights or weekends with slow attendance. We Do Not allow them on busy weekends or busy events. We have partnered with Harvest Hosts to accept and book overnight parking in advance. See more info here: https://www.harvesthosts.com/hosts/illinois/lSsZWKkhqfuNed1FXsZ7?source=drawer
• There are 2 other options for camping near the drive-in, with the town campground 3 blocks from the drive-in and Countryside Campground just a mile south of us with great facilities to use.
  
• My car does not have FM radio stations, what can I use to hear the movie? You can bring a portable stereo and get sound that way. All movie audio is fed through a digital high definition FM transmitter. We also have radio rentals available on a limited basis. An ID and $5 is required to rent our regular radios or you can get a premium radio for $10. Those are better for large groups. We also sell portable radios for just $30-$35 in the Snack Bar so you can have one for each drive-in visit.

• Can I bring my dog/pet? Yes, however we have some rules that must be followed. The dog or animal must be friendly, able to stay quiet during the shows, on a leash at all times and cleaned up after. We are very pet friendly and have 3 dog walk areas at the theater: 1 on the south side by the grain bins, one along the creek on the north side and a path behind screen 2 in the tall grassy area. We usually have free treats at the box office or with our parking attendants and special pet merchandise available for your furry friends. We also feature special nights with free pup cups, donations for local animal shelters, contests and are ranked as one of the most pet friendly theaters in the US!
  
• Can I leave the theater to get food, gas, forgotten items, etc.? No. Once you enter the theater, you will have to pay admission to re-enter the theater if you leave and come back in. We carry most batteries, a large selection of food/drinks, rain ponchos, bug spray, radios, chairs and more. The gas stations in town are open 24/7 for fuel. We do offer Pizza in our Snack Bar(slices or entire 12" pizzas) along with dozens of other great items at reasonable prices. You CANNOT have food delivered to the theater! The drivers will be turned away and you'll lose your order. Please plan in advance and bring anything you want to use during the show with you when you come in and purchase a food permit if you bring in food/drinks from an outside source.

• Can I leave and come back in without being charged again? NO, see above. Just like many concert and event venues, you must stay inside the theater once you have entered. If you leave for any reason, you will be required to purchase a new admission when you re-enter.

• What is there to do before the movie? Sit around or in your vehicle and socialize with those that you arrived with, tailgate before the movie, and utilize our playground areas under the screens. On some nights we have our vintage carousel open for free rides before the show, interactive fun on screen or around the grounds for extra entertainment and options to keep you busy before the show. Some folks walk the grounds, bike around the perimeter, play yard games, bring cards, and make social media  posts. The drive-in has many fun photo spots and areas that are great for creating unique dances and content to highlight your trip to the theater.

• Do you have gift cards? Yes, we offer special 'gift packages' that you can purchase on our 'shop' page of the website or you can get them at the theater if you ask to speak to a manager or call our office at 815-383-7509.

• Can I purchase tickets before the movie? Yes, as long as you purchase them on our website through the official presale ticket app. Be advised that pre-purchased tickets are the only way to guarantee a parking spot. Please follow all ticket guidelines exactly for quick and contactless service. We have up to 75% of our parking capacity available for online sales, including our reserved front row spots and truck bed experience rentals. It's a fast and easy way to get your trip booked and ready for a show.

• Is alcohol allowed? No, but we do not search vehicles.

• If I have van, crossover or SUV, am  I allowed to back in and open my hatch? Yes, just make sure you stay in your designated parking area and have your hatch level with the roof of the vehicle so it does not block anyone's view of the screen. If you have a hatch that will impede the view of those behind you, our parking staff can tie down the hatch so it is level with the roof and does not harm your car.

• Can I smoke? NO, smoking is not permitted on the property except for 2 circumstances. You may smoke inside your vehicle if it does not bother your neighbors or those parked near you. If you are asked to stop, please follow our rules and put it out during the show. We also have a designated smoking area by our dumpster out by the exit lane. You may smoke there as long as you throw your butts in the burn barrel behind the dumpster. Also no butts are to be thrown on the ground, If you are observed doing this, you will be asked to leave without a refund. We take pride in offering a clean and safe facility at the drive-in, and ask for your cooperation to keep it that way. Smoking Marijuana is strictly prohibited and you will be expelled from the grounds without a refund. 

• How early should I arrive? On busy nights such as Friday, Saturday, or special occasions/events, we suggest arriving when the gates open or earlier. We fill up fast once we open our gates on busy nights, and arriving early is the only way to get a good viewing spot. All parking is first come first served even if you have an online purchase. Only Reserved Front Row parking spaces are assigned and those are assigned as they are purchased and must be booked in advance online. During very busy nights, we can be sold out up to 2 hours prior to showtime! Please purchase advance tickets before the cutoff to guarantee entry and check our facebook page for updates on if we are sold out on those busy nights.

• If the lot is full, can I still come in? Yes, we have limited parking outside the theater where you can walk in to sit and watch the movie on lawn chairs. We have a small number of spaces to park in our entrance area and plenty of room to sit under the screens or by the Snack Bar for this option. Early arrival is key for the best drive-in experience.

• Is it Cash Only or do you accept credit cards? We take cash, credit/debit cards and google/apple pay at our box office, snack bar, tiki hut and burger barn. Cash is still preferred due to occasional provider outages on the CC networks and some events where vendors can only accept cash. 

• When is show time? The movies start at dusk, once it is dark enough to see them on the screen. It will range from 7:30 in the spring and fall to 9 pm in the middle of the summer.