I started writing this on very little sleep over the last 24 hours. Not for any bad reasons, but just choices we make in life. Sure, some of them might not be too smart, especially at my age, but it is one bad choice I will continue to make as long as I can. What is this poor choice that I am talking about? Going to the Dusk to Dawn Horrorfest at the Midway Drive-in last Saturday!

First of all, I love the drive-in experience just on its own. And then when you throw basically an all-night festival, screening 4 different features, that allow you to surround yourself with hundreds of other like-minded horror fans, how could I ever pass up that opportunity. I’ve been going to these kinds of events hosted by Mike and Mia Kerz, who own and operate the Midway Drive-in for close to 2 decades. In fact, it was 20 years ago this month that they held the very last event at Aurora’s Hi-Lite 30 Drive-In, which they tried to buy. But due to some shifty moves by the city and some businesses, they were not allowed, instead it getting sold to be used for new condos. Now, 20 years later, the vacant field still remains, with not one condo or building there. Nice.

Anyway, let’s get back to the positive. The Kerz did buy the Midway Drive-in, located in Dixon, IL, and have been successfully running it since then. I have been out there many times over the years and always have a good time. When they hold their Dusk to Dawn shows, we are always set up there as vendors, along with our other vendor friends Jill & Gregg from Lix and Andrew from Time Warp Collectibles.

Now being a vendor at an outdoor event is challenging. First and foremost, there is the sun and the heat, two of my least favorite things. But as a bookseller, the rain is even worse. A few years ago, we had a huge rainstorm come through during the early part of the show. We were smart enough to have tarps and stuff for our tent to keep the rain at bay or at least try to. Live and learn. So, a week before the event, we’re checking the weather to see if rain is even in the forecast. For last weekend, there was a chance of it, but not until after midnight. But then the percentage started to rise. Once the first movie was over, it was showing a pretty powerful rainfall around 11pm-12am. After discussing it with Jill & Gregg from Lix, who were set up next to us, we decided we’d pack up during the second movie, that way when it did start raining, we wouldn’t have to do it while it was raining.

Of course, we get all packed up right near the end of Halloween III, and there is not a freaking cloud in the sky! Looking at the radar, it showed us under a rainstorm. Needless to say, we were all not that happy. But we decided to sit outside and watched Shaun of the Dead (2004) and had an absolute blast. Sure, it would have been nice to still be open, but it was still a great night.

There was one hell of a lineup for this event, starting with the 40^th anniversary of Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator (1985), which is just as amazing as when I first saw it in the theater where I worked back then. Next up was Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), which is a touchy title amongst some fans, mainly because it was a complete break from the first two films. If you’re one of those, get over it. It actually is a pretty good movie, with a really messed-up plot, and another beauty of an ending.

As we mentioned, Shaun was next, and this was my first time seeing it on the big screen. Seen it plenty of times on DVD back when it came out, even buying an import of it before it got an official release here.

The last film was Bride of Re-Animator (1990), which I really wanted to stay for, but it was already late, and we had over an hour’s drive back home and didn’t want to chance falling asleep at the wheel.

As a horror fan, and a lover of the drive-in, it was so cool to see the lot packed with cars. Not only does it give me hope for the drive-in, but it shows that fans love to come out to support these kinds of events. Being set up outside the concession building, we get to spend most of the day/night chatting with other like-minded fans. We even saw this couple that had matching Torso shirts on! How cool is that! I had to get a picture of them. A couple that shares this kind of passion is something special. That is really one of my favorite parts of the event. If you ever see one of these events coming up, I strongly encourage you to come out for the fun. You won’t regret it.