New York will host a summer series of drive-in festivals

This summer New Yorkers have the chance to enjoy a different type of festival experience as a mammoth car park near Yankee Stadium swaps out ballgame fans for music and movie lovers.

Drive-ins are the social distancing respite New Yorkers are turning to after weeks of being cooped up indoors. Ever since Governor Andrew Cuomo gave them the green light to reopen on 15 May, they've become the hottest tickets in town. With leisure options currently limited, drive-ins are giving people the chance to enjoy a change of scenery and indulge in a few fun-filled hours of entertainment without breaching public health and safety guidelines.

Couple holding popcorn while sitting in camping van during drive-in movie — The drive-in festival will kick off in July and take place over the weekend ©Getty Images

The Bronx is getting in on the act too by turning a parking lot near Yankee Stadium into the Uptown Drive-In: a series of three-day festivals running from Fridays to Sundays that will kick off in July. The event will feature music performances by local artists, as well as live interactive games, date-night experiences, family-friendly brunches, prize giveaways and movie screenings. Attendees can also enjoy car-side dining with menus provided by popular New York City street food vendors and social distancing service

The event is hosted by MASC Hospitality Group, the same team behind Bronx Night Market and Bronx Beer Fest and organisers say they are working with city authorities to ensure that proper COVID-19 procedures are applied. Cars must park 10 feet away from each other, while only 200 vehicles can register for each event. In time, they want to roll out the project to venues across Manhattan and Long Island.

Advertising banners at Yankee Stadium — Organisers plan to roll out the festival to other venues across New York ©Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images

Attendees can sign up to the Uptown Drive-In waiting list here. Tickets are all-inclusive and will be available online on a first-come, first-serve basis. First responders and healthcare workers will be admitted for free.

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