Bengies Drive-In is Maryland’s last drive-in theatre, boasts the U.S.’s largest screen…and hosted this year’s Phoenix Rising fundraiser.
As the sunset and a drizzle started on October 1st, dozens of cars lined up to enter historic Bengies Drive-In near the Baltimore City/County line for the unique experience of celebrating the Best of Maryland awards during continued health precautions necessitated by the ongoing COVID health crisis.
Once parked, safely-distanced, the crowd enjoyed vintage jingles and Maryland movie trivia on the big screen before an amazing video highlighting the organization’s recent work and the 2020 Best of Maryland Award winners.
Executive Director Nicholas Redding addressed the crowd from the 52-foot by 120-foot screen from a pre-recorded video filmed in his home office in Walkersville, Maryland. Paramount to the address was thanking the organization’s stalwart sponsors and generous donors. Attendees also voted on new members to the 89-year-young organization’s Board of Directors.
When the feature film started, the 1980s classic “The Money Pit” starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long, folks settled into their front seats and lawn chairs enjoying the opportunity to come together to appreciate our shared history – while also making new memories together.