We have a list of things we do every single summer. They’re kind of like traditions in our family and we always make sure we do them at least once every summer. One of the things on our list is going to the drive-in. It’s such a fun way to watch a movie and it’s always a hit with the husband and kids. When you’re planning a night at the drive-in, there are some things you will definitley need to bring with you to make your night a success. Whether you’re going on a date night with your hubby (or wife) or your whole family is in tow, don’t forget these essentials.
**Disclosure: Thanks to Breyers for sponsoring this conversation. All opinions expressed here are strictly my own and were not influenced in any way.
Lawn Chairs
Not everyone likes sitting in their car while they watch the movie at the drive-in. We always back the car in so we can move to the trunk of the SUV, but we bring lawn chairs to sit in, too. Depending on where you’re parked, sometimes you can see the movie even better if you sit in a chair.
Bug Repellant
No matter what you do, don’t forget to bring bug repellant to the drive-in with you. If you forget this, you risk getting eaten alive, literally. We keep extra bug spray in the vehicle just in case we need it and it always comes in handy at the drive-in.
Extra Clothing
Even though it’s summer, it can get really chilly once the sun goes down. You honestly never know how cold or how hot it will get at the drive-in, so it’s better to bring those extra layers – just in case.
Don’t Forget the Hand Sanitizer
When you head to the drive-in movie theater, you never know what you will come across germ wise. We always bring a bottle of hand sanitizer with us. It’s relieving to know we are killing some of those germs along the way.
Snacks & Water to stay hydrated
Since you can bring in your own food at the drive-in, we load up the car with goodies. We bring lots of bottles of water with us because the heat seems to make us extremely thirsty. We also have plenty of snacks. What’s a movie without snacks. In addition to packing a picnic dinner, we also always make sure to have a mix of sweet and salty snacks with us. Of course, we bring a big bag of popcorn to satisfy the need for something salty, but we also brought some Breyers Gelato Indulgences on our date night recently to keep our sweet tooth in check.
Current varieties of Breyers Gelato Indulgences include:
- New This Year: Cappuccino – Features cappuccino gelato with a foamy cream swirl and gourmet chocolate chips
- New This Year: Chocolate Caramel – Features chocolate gelato with luscious caramel sauce and gourmet chocolate curls
- New This Year: Mint Chocolate – Features mint gelato with a rich fudge swirl and gourmet chocolate curls
- New This Year: Strawberry Truffle – Features strawberry gelato with a rich fudge swirl and gourmet dark chocolatey truffles.
- Vanilla Caramel – Features creamy vanilla gelato with luscious caramel sauce and gourmet caramel curls
- Raspberry Cheesecake – Features cheesecake gelato with luscious raspberry sauce and gourmet graham crumble
- Tiramisu – Features mascarpone gelato with espresso sauce, ladyfinger cookie pieces & gourmet cocoa
- Triple Chocolate – Features milk and dark chocolate gelato with white chocolate sauce & chocolate curls
We brought the Triple Chocolate and the Chocolate Caramel along on our date and between Chris & I, we devoured all of it. They were the perfect sweet treat to bring with us to our date night at the drive-in.
A date night at the drive in with the one you love (or the whole family) is always a fun adventure. It’s almost like camping, but in smaller form. What is something you bring to the drive-in for date night?
I have been so wanting to try Breyer’s Gelato and think you totally twisted my arm here with your review 😉
Peer pressure can be a good thing. Like when it tells you that you need yummy treats. 🙂
The ice cream looks good! But where did you get those spoons? So cool!
Those spoons really are pretty fun aren’t they? They signify love for these!
That gelato is so darn good! I’ve tried a few of the flavors and absolutely love them!
I agree the gelato looks yummy. I want to try all of the flavors. I will have to see if they still have a drive-in in our area.
Oh man, bug spray is a good one to remember. Nothing ruins a night out faster than bugs. We have a theater close by here, I think we’ll go. My youngest has never been (to a drive-in).
What a fun date night. I think once it’s not 110 here my hubs and I will have to attempt to do this!! So much fun – and the gelato- YUM!
I love those spoon!! I don’t think I have been to a drive in in years!! What a fun date night!
It’s also been a long time since I last went to watch a Drive In movie. I miss those days and how I wish there is one in my area, so my kids can experience this, too.
I can think of at least one thing you missed, but since this is a family blog I don’t dare disclose it here! 😉
I have never been to a drive in movie…Pathetic right? My kids would love to go so I think we’ll put that on our list of things to do. Thank you for the great tips.
I haven’t been to the drive in since I was a little girl. I really should go before summer is over. Breyers Gelato is the PERFECT date night treat!
This looks like such a fun idea. I love drive-ins and I have wanted to try Breyers Gelato.
I don’t think that I have ever been to a drive-in. It seems like the perfect place to go for date night.
My husband and I go to the drive in all the time, I love it! Bryers has the best Gelato, seriously I’m in love with it.
I have to try this ice cream, this looks delish. What a fun date night.
We don’t have drive-ins near us anymore, they are kinda far away and since I don’t drive I haven’t been to one in a long time. I miss them, they were always super fun! Those heart shaped spoons are adorable. This post is making me want a snack, I wish I had Breyers Gelato Indulgences in my freezer right now!
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly
YUM!! That gelato looks so good. Plus drive ins are the best. I miss having one in our neighborhood.
We love going to the drive in but usually have the kids. I love those spoons.
I haven’t been to the drive in since my now hubby and I went on our first date!! Although a friend of ours recently took his family and had to wait over an hour in line for food so taking your own is the BEST idea! <3 Christine, The Choosy Mommy, http://www.choosykids.blogspot.com
We don’t have any drive in theater places here but we do love gelato for our at home movie nights! No bug repellent needed 😉
We don’t have a drive in anywhere near us anymore (BOO!) I would love to go to one with my hubby. That looks like so much fun! Great tips and I want the gelato!
I would love to do a drive in…I’m going to have to google map one near me. Glad you and your hubby had a great time – I love those spoons and Byers ice cream! 🙂
I would bring that gelato anywhere! I’d love to see a movie at a drive-in again. It’s been years since we’ve done that.
I’ve never been to a drive-in! It seems like such a classic Americana experience!
This sounds like a great date night. I would like to try all of the Gelato flavors. I have not been to the drive-In since I was a kid.
Drive ins are so much fun! I could definitely go for watching a movie in the car while my husband and I stuff our faces with gelato. Yay!
I love the Strawberry Truffle! It is so delicious! Wish there was a drive in around here. Would love to experience that.
I haven’t been to the drive in in so long! Love that you bring ice cream! Also, I love the blog name, every time it makes me do a double take, love it!
Movie? Check. Delicious nom noms? Check. Yep, you were totally right. This IS everything I need for date night!
We use to go all the time when I was a kid in the station wagon. My mom would make pizza and we would have a blast.
I haven’t been to the drive in in YEARS! Those spoons are just too cute.
LOL, how cute. I’ve always wanted to do a drive in movie! I haven’t found one near us yet.
That looks like so much fun. I remember the days of the drive-in. Up here in the mountains, we’re lucky to just have an indoor theater though. :/
I want some cappuccino and cheesecake.. We love drive in movie but not during summer.. way too hot.
Mint chocolate seems to be calling my name. I’d bring bug spray too 🙂
Yum! The Chocolate Carmel sounds wonderful. I would definitely bring this to a drive in date night. I wish we still had a drive in movie around here.
Breyer’s Gelato looks and sounds amazing. I miss drive in date nights but we don’t have any around here anymore. I used to love to go to the drive in.
I hadn’t been to a drive in for many years until I moved to south Florida. We have a very popular one down here and can’t believe they don’t have a gelato stand since gelato is so popular! I love the drive in and snuggling up to my honey while we watch a movie!
Drive in movies are definitely fun. We haven’t tried the new flavors from Breyers, yet.
Nice article – drive-ins are becoming increasingly rare, but I am hopeful they will not go extinct, as this is a nice summer date venue! Excellent treats – I love your chocolate chip dessert….and you know what they say about romance and chocolate 😉
How fun of a time is that! I have always wanted to go to the drive in movies! What a fun date night and that gelato, looks amazing!
Oh wow this looks like such a cool date – I totally admit I would love to go to a drive in! x
I haven’t been to a drive in since I was a kid! And to take gelato! Sounds like a date night made in heaven!
I haven’t been to a drive in theater in ages. The last one in our area became an adult theater. I’ll admit we visited it once…it was kind of sad to see the old swingset and playground in front of the screen.
I have never been to a drive in. I wonder if I’d be distracted. I also found out we have one near us! I should go with my husband and keep the kids at home.
I have never been to a drive in, I don’t think that we have nay in this area. However, I know that we have the Breye’s Gelato. I saw it at Kroger and it was calling my name!
I love Breyer’s Gelato. It tastes so good. My favorite is the triple chocolate.
I like to bring a blanket with me to the drive in that way I can wrap up in it if I get cold or I can sit on it if needed. I tried the Breyers Chocolate Caramel the other day and it was delicious.
Most of our Drive-ins are closing down which is so sad because I loved going to them. Felt like a teenage again. 😛
I Love this blog! I think it’s very interesting.
This looks delicious! I haven’t been to the drive in movies in ages but always remember how much fun we had.
How fun! That is a perfect date night idea!
I have never been to a drive in. We were hoping the city would open one this summer but it didn’t happen. Love the heart shaped spoons! Too much fun!
Can’t remember the last time I was at the drive in….
I would never have thought to take my favorite ice cream to the drive in! This is something I always enjoy doing with my hubs.
Love ice cream! I use to enjoy the drive inn for movies. Sadly they no longer exist in Canada.
We don’t have a drive in movie theater near by but we do have Breyers Gelato available and it is yummy!
I love drive ins! What a fun summer tradition and lovin that gelato!
Can I say how jealous i am that you even have a drive-in? There’s none to be found where I live. I would love a date night there
John has been wanting to go all summer! The gelato looks delish and way better than the drive in snacks. Yes, to the bug repellant! The mosquitoes are bad at the one where we live.
Drive Ins are the only way to see a movie with kids! I love bringing yummy treats to snack on!
We dont have any drive ins here. I will rent a movie and eat this though.
Wow that looks like a lot of fun! We don’t have a drive-in close by.
These are great items to take with, and that looks like a lot of fun! I have never been to a drive in.
I haven’t been to a drive-in theater in such a long time. That would fun to go.
I wish we still had a drivein near us. They took the last one in the area down 3 years ago. Chairs are a must. I want some Triple Chocolate and the Chocolate Caramel
What pleasant memories this brought back and what a craving for tiramisu as well! Love it! 🙂
We have yet to they these out. They do look very delicious though!
You guys look so cute! I wish our drive in was closer but I’d definitely bring the Breyers Gelato’s, I tried them a few weeks ago and they are amazingly delicious!
This is a great idea for date night! We have yet to go to the Drive In this summer and need to squeeze it in while the weather still holds! And, YES, bug spray is a must especially if you brave being out of the car like in a camping chair of the bed of a pickup! P.S. I’m totally bringing some of that gelato with us! lol
I have not been to the drive in for years. We used to go all the time until our local place was shut down. I would love to go again. These are great tips.
I love when our local drive in has marathon nights. We usually pack up the car and go. It is a great way to spend the evening with the family.
We were just talking about going to the drive in. I will have to see what is playing. These are great tips. I always bring a ton of snacks and warm clothes.
What a great snack for the movies! I love all the flavors – yum!
We went to a drive-in as a family for the first time. It was a blast! I’d love to go back on a date with my husband.
What a fun idea. I have never been to a drive in, but have always wanted to go. That Breyers Gelato Indulgences sounds amazing
That looks absolutely sensational. I haven’t had gelato in so long, I think I need to try this!
Raspberry cheesecake sounds delicious. These are great ideas for a drive-in movie date!
We have never been to a drive-in movie. We really need to find one because that sounds like fun.
Yum. I love Gelato. I love the idea of bringing this on date night! ( my husband and I might eat the whole thing though)
We haven’t been to a drive in movie in a long time because they don’t even start the movies until late and by then the husband and I are both exhausted. WE’re getting too old. lol. But I would love to do a drive in movie again.
And that gelato! We grabbed that for our last Date night in! Oh it was delicious!
I haven’t gone to a movie drive in, in such a long time. This has made me want to go to a drive in with popcorn and ice-cream.
You are definitely right about insect repellents. We wouldn’t want our date night ruined by those creepy crawlers and blood sucking mosquitoes. Gelato is always good and if I were to choose, I’d have Breyers Cappuccino for me and Triple Chocolate for my hubby.
I have never been to a drive-in before, but I have always wanted to go to one, though. Thanks for the wonderful tips!
I just wish we had one here. I’ve never been to one.
I have never been to a drive in! It looks like so much fun!
I’ve never been to a drive in in years! Those are nice tips. And the gelato looks really good! Breyers is love.
I’ve never been in a drive in or date with my hubby in that place. Sometimes I wanted to try.
I wanna try it to have a date with my hubby, ice cream is my favorite desert in dinner.
I need to have a date night at the drive-in with my hubby! We haven’t had a date night in a while so I love this idea! Of course ice cream would make it even better 🙂
I thinks it was a great date night. I wanna try this with my hubby and kids and ohhh the Breyers Gelato was look delicious, craving for this right now
Oh how I miss the drive in. I haven’t been in ages. I would love to go for a date night with my hubby. I miss date nights out too. This is a great post, and great advice on what is needed!
I can’t remember the last time that I went to a drive-in!! What a fun date-night and the Breyers Gelatos sounds amazing!!
What a fun date night idea! I’ve never actually been to a drive through but it definitely sounds fun especially with the yummy gelato!
Love the ice cream :)..looks like you are all set for a great time at the drive in 🙂
I never thought to bring ice cream with me to a movie, but it is a good idea! I need to add this stuff to my shopping list!
What a fun date night. We just had a drive in open in our area this summer. Will need to try this!
That’s so awesome that you have a drive in there. I’ve never been to one and here there was one that was really really old and they just opened it back up this year. Can’t wait to go.
I love going to the drive in! I used to go all the time when I lived in OK. Now, in MI, they don’t really have many and the one that is sort of close is still pretty far. So, its a treat for us to go. The hand sanitizer is a must!
We love the drive-in. It’s fun to take the kids, but as a date night is great, too. My guy and I actually had a date there just a few weeks ago where we saw the newest Terminator.
I haven’t been to the drive-in in years! I need to find one near us!
This sounds like a great date night! I love gelato and I am excited to try that chocolate caramel. It sounds super yum.
Going to the drive-in is so fun! I would have never thought to bring Gelato but omg, YUM! Great idea, I’ll bring some with me next time, for sure.
I haven’t been to a drive-in for years. Love them but hard to find them these days.
Bug repellent is really a must! Thankfully when I forget our local drive-in sells it.
I love Drive in.. we always pack tons of snacks and blanket. Prefer to go to drive in during winter or fall.
I’m headed to an outdoor movie tonight and will certainly be grabbing the bug spray. Love the idea of gelato; I may have to pick some up!
I love the drive in movies and we do this a few times each summer as we are fortunate to have two of them in driving distance. And they are pet friendly!
Used to love drive in’s! They don’t have any around here but I would totally go to one if they had it . So much fun
I had gelato in Italy and oh em gee it was good. I love chocolate anything so I’m going to have to get this tonight.
Yummy. How in the world did you keep the Gelato from melting? 🙂 I love going to the drive in. Next time we go I will take the chairs.
Breyers Gelato Vanilla Caramel is our favorite! Hubby and I love it. We have not been to an outdoor in years…fun Date Night!
What a great way to enjoy date night! I haven’t been to the drive in in forever! I’ll have to go when it is cooler.
I would go anywhere if it included ice cream. I need to try this!
Foods, sanitizers and insect repellant = a must for me. Thanks for sharing your list!
This sounds so Fun. Id love to snuggle at a drive through with my husband.
I haven’t been to a drive-in in many years. We always enjoyed going. A few things that is a must is bug spray, blankets and snacks. Yup snacking is a must!
I LOVE drive in movies. I was so bummed when they closed the ones down in our town. Bug repellent–good one, and one that I would have forgot!
We dont have driveins around here anymore. I totally miss going to them! What a great date night idea!
I’d love to have a date night at the drive in, such a classic idea! I’d want the Mint Chocolate flavor on ours!
What a sweet date! We have never done this before so thank you for the great idea.
I haven’t been to a drive-in movie since I was a kiddo. My hubby will love this date idea. I think I may make it a surprise.
I’ve never been to a drive in movie before. Great tips for me to know when I do go to one 🙂
Love This! We don’t have any drive-ins nearby that I know of but this defintiely sounds like ther perfect low cost date night. So fun and intimate to be in your own car and sem-private. Great idea!
a perfect summer evening date. I wish we still had drive ins around here, but sadly, I think they are all closed now.
I don’t remember the last time I’ve been to a drive thru! That is a perfect summer date. The gelato looks yummy.
I have been wanting to try these gelatos. They look delicious!
This is an excellent to bring a fancy dessert to a unique date. Love the idea!
It’s been years since we’ve tried this to my wife. We would love to try this date night. The Breyers Gelato looks delicious
Bobbi is a huge ice cream fan. We can not have a at home night unless we have some ice cream and cookies.
This is such a cute date night idea. I wish we had a drive in near us. I would totally love to experience that with the family.
I’ve never had a drive in date night before. It sounds like a lot of fun, especially with that awesome ice cream!
I love going to the drive-in with my hubby. Ours doesn’t allow you to take in your own food anymore unless you purchase a permit. It’s still less expensive than buying food in the concession stand but takes some of the fun out of it.
I love the drive-in! I have been going to the drive-in since I was a little tot! Good Memories!
I love Breyers ice cream because they have so many great flavors.
We love the drive-in! It’s been way too long since we went.