×

Drive-in movie fest to benefit youth center

A drive-in screening of “Happy Gilmore,” starring Adam Sandler, is seen June 13 at the North Elba Show Grounds in Lake Placid, with the 1980 Winter Olympic cauldron in the background. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

LAKE PLACID — As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the event formerly known as the annual I Love BBQ and Music Festival at Lake Placid’s Olympic Speedskating Oval has been reimagined as the Casella Drive-In Movie Festival benefiting the Shipman Youth Center.

It will be held Labor Day weekend, from Friday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 6 at the North Elba Show Grounds on state Route 73 (5514 Cascade Road), site of the opening ceremony for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

In addition to Casella’s participation as title sponsor, the big screen and related technology will be provided by Eric Wilson’s Good Guy Productions, based in Bloomingdale. Movies begin nightly at 8 p.m.; gates open at 6:30. The movie festival marks the 15th consecutive year of assistance for the Shipman Youth Center. In its original form as a barbecue and music fest, the event became the center’s top fundraiser to provide needed financial assistance for its programs.

Event chairman Dmitry Feld, marketing manager for USA Luge, announced the movie schedule as follows:

¯ Sept. 4: “Minions,” followed by “The Blues Brothers”

Thomas Shipman Youth Center, Lake Placid (News photo — Andy Flynn)

¯ Sept. 5: “School of Rock” and “Instant Family”

¯ Sept. 6: “Shrek” and “Jurassic Park”

COVID-19 restrictions will be in place for the three nights, including marked parking locations at the show grounds, masks are required of all attendees, and movie-goers must remain in their vehicles at all times unless using the restrooms.

The first 100 guests each night to enter the venue will be given free packaged snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, hand sanitizer and masks.

A free-will donation upon entry is $10 per person or $25 for a full vehicle.

The Casella Drive-In Movie Festival is also offering a raffle with 11 cash prizes. A limited number of tickets will be sold, with a top prize of $3,000. Just log on to www.shipmanyouthcenter.org and click on the DONATE button.

The weekend movie festival will take place no matter the weather.

The Shipman Youth Center and USA Luge are indebted to the following sponsors and supporters for the success of the event:

Title sponsor: Casella

Gold level: Community Bank, Bernard and Karen Dayan, McDonald’s, Certain Teed, Adirondack Inn, Mix 105 FM, Lake Placid News and Coca-Cola

Silver level: Hannaford and Price Chopper

Bronze level: Meister Accounting, Saranac Beverages, Coakley Home and Hardware, High Peaks Ford and Lake Placid Family Dental

Donors: Town of North Elba, Village of Lake Placid, Imbriani family, Taylor family, Howe family, Quinn family and Margarita Sears

Friend: Meister Marine

About the Shipman Youth Center

The beneficiary of the Casella Drive-In Movie Festival is the Shipman Youth Center (www.shipmanyouthcenter.org), a nonprofit community organization providing support to children and youth ages 10-18.

The center was inspired by Thomas Shipman, a designated Lake Placid youth police officer, who died in 1999 and built the center with community donations of money, materials and labor. For the last 21 years, the youth center has provided services to over 6,000 different children. Programs include homework time and assistance, community services, recreational services, weekly family-style dinners, dances, and guest speakers. The facility provides a supervised, safe and exciting environment where local children can grow and develop as individuals.

The Shipman Youth Center is 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization.

Starting at $1.44/week.

Subscribe Today