Twin Rivers Drive-In ending 2023 season a month early due to smoke, technical challenges

The Twin Rivers Drive-In is closing up for the 2023 season, more than a month early.

Wildfire smoke and ongoing technical issues are the main reasons officials have decided to close down early.

A release says the screen used by the Kamloops Film Society (KFS) has not been doing well with all the wind and ripped repeatedly throughout the summer, impacting movie screenings.

“Without the inherent amenities of McArthur Island, it has been a difficult go for the Twin Rivers Drive-In. In both 2022 and 2023 we have faced a plethora of obstacles, most of which we have ultimately surmounted,” says Dušan Magdolen, KFS executive director.

“Perhaps the location, orientation, or time of year (September) in 2022 had something to do with it, but we had no screen issues last year - Though we did have many others.”

Magdolen says it was a tough decision for the non-profit organization to make, but they will try to regroup in 2024.

However, they are going to need secure a more permanent screen and they are going to need help with a new location that the KFS can use for three-plus years.

“Unfortunately (for us)/ fortunately (for them), though Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc have been amazing partners, they have exciting plans for all of their land and can’t make multi-year commitments at this time,” says the KFS.

Those lands would need to be 3-4 acres of flat, or sloped to one side, land they could use for July, August and September.

They would need space to leave items like a permanent screen and concession/box office on site over the winter. The perfect location would be within 30m minutes or less of Kamloops and have vehicle access for one or two points.

Magdolen says other amenities like washrooms and power would really help as well.

Anyone with ideas for where KFS can set up the drive-in next year, can contact Magdolen via email at [email protected].