The Midway Drive-In's DUSK TO DAWN HORRORFEST

Sep 9
5 min read

Flashback Weekend Dusk to Dawn HorrorFest at the Historic Midway Drive-In

Hosted by Nick Digilio – Saturday, September 20th – Dixon, IL

I am absolutely thrilled to be hosting Flashback Weekend’s Dusk to Dawn HorrorFest at the legendary Midway Drive-In in Dixon, Illinois.

This event is always one of the best nights of the year, and if you’re a horror fan, a drive-in lover, or someone who simply wants to spend a magical night under the stars watching wild movies with great people, food, and atmosphere... then this is for you.

It’s happening Saturday, September 20th: four killer horror movies, vintage concession ads, horror vendors, trivia, behind-the-scenes stories, and the drive-in experience the way it was meant to be: on 90 feet of glorious screen, beneath the stars, with people who live and breathe the genre.

THE MIDWAY DRIVE-IN: A NATIONAL TREASURE

Before we get into the films, we’ve gotta talk about The Midway. Built in 1950, it’s home to the oldest standing drive-in screen in Illinois and has been operating non-stop since the golden age of cinema.

Seriously, the place is a living time capsule, from the retro “spaceship” ticket booth to the full-on Midway Diner serving up everything from cheeseburgers and cotton candy to fried cheese sticks and pizza. And let’s not forget the FM stereo audio, so you can blast the sound in your car like it’s 1985.

Mike and Mia Kerz, who have been running Flashback Weekend since 2002, are also the caretakers of this beautiful gem, and they’ve done an incredible job of restoring and preserving its history while loading it up with cool programming like this. They’re two of my favorite people on the planet, and the love they pour into this place shows in every detail.

EVENT INFO

🗓️ Saturday, September 20th
🕕 Box office opens at 6:00 p.m.
🎥 First movie starts at dusk (around 7:00 p.m.)
💰 Admission: $20 for adults, $5 for kids (ages 3-11)
🛍️ Horror vendors on site!
🍔 Full concessions and Midway Diner food available all night!
👻 I’ll be introducing each film and sharing behind-the-scenes stories, trivia, and more!

Seriously, FOUR MOVIES for 20 bucks? That's less than the price of one stadium seat popcorn. You can’t beat it.

ADVANCED TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE: Midway Drive-In Website

THE LINEUP: FOUR HORROR CLASSICS TO TAKE YOU TO DAWN

Let’s get into what you’ll be watching, four legendary horror films that cover everything from Lovecraftian insanity to misunderstood witches, to British zombie rom-coms, to one of the most bonkers sequels ever made. Buckle up.

1. RE-ANIMATOR (1985) – In Glorious 35mm!

We’re kicking things off with a true cult classic: Re-Animator. Not only is this the 40th anniversary of Stuart Gordon’s batshit masterpiece, but we’re showing it on a real 35mm print, projected in that beautiful Midway booth.

I don’t care how many times you’ve seen this movie, you haven’t seen it like this.

It’s loud, gory, funny, and completely unhinged. Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West? One of the great mad scientist performances in movie history. We’ve got headless bodies walking around, a glowing syringe full of re-agent juice, and Barbara Crampton being both vulnerable and badass.

There’s no better way to start this horror night than with the green glow of madness in 35mm. I’ll have some killer stories about the making of this one too.

2. HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982)

Yes. We’re showing that one. The black sheep. The one without Michael Myers. And I’m here to tell you: Halloween III rules.

I’ve been defending this movie since day one. Tommy Lee Wallace’s weird, techno-pagan, apocalyptic thriller was way ahead of its time.

When it dropped in ’82, fans hated it for daring to ditch the Myers storyline, but time has been kind, and it’s now recognized as the weird, wild cult classic it always was. It’s got killer masks, android assassins, Stonehenge mind-control lasers, and Tom Atkins at peak Atkins.

Plus that jingle... you know the one:

🎵 “Eight more days till Halloween, Silver Shamrock...” 🎵

Good luck getting that out of your head for the rest of the night.

3. SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004)

From head-exploding 80s cult to British brilliance, Shaun of the Dead is one of the greatest horror comedies ever made.

Edgar Wright’s zom-rom-com is a love letter to George Romero and zombie fans everywhere. Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, an all-timer Queen needle drop, brilliant gore, and heartfelt comedy? It’s rare to find a movie this hilarious and this scary.

Romero himself loved it so much he cast Wright and Pegg in Land of the Dead. I’ve adored this film since I first saw it, and getting to watch it with a crowd under the stars? Perfection.

It’s got love. It’s got loss. It’s got cricket bats and backyard records. And it’s one of the defining movies of the 2000s, period.

4. BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR (1990)

And we close out the night with a perfect bookend, Bride of Re-Animator.

This sequel is completely bananas. Jeffrey Combs returns for another round of mad science, and director Brian Yuzna turns the insanity dial to eleven.

This is one of the most hilariously grotesque, blood-soaked sequels in horror history, and it’s the perfect way to carry us into sunrise. Heads on wings! Reanimated body parts! Over-the-top gore and twisted humor! You’re not sleeping after this one. And really, who wants to?

FINAL THOUGHTS FROM ME (AND JULIE)

Julie and I will be there all night, sitting under the stars with our horror tribe, eating corn dogs, laughing, jumping, and soaking in that pure Midway magic.

We’ll talk movies, hang out at the vendors, eat way too much popcorn, and experience this thing together like we’ve done for years. This is community. This is ritual. And it’s the perfect bridge between summer’s end and the spooky season ahead.

So pack the car. Bring your friends. Bring the kids (if they’re brave). Let’s say goodbye to summer with blood, laughs, and some truly unhinged cinema.

TICKETS & DETAILS

🎫 $20 Adults / $5 Kids (Ages 3–11)
📍 Midway Drive-In, Dixon, IL
🕕 Box office opens at 6:00 p.m.
🎬 Movies start at dusk. The event runs until sunrise
🛍️ Horror vendors, stories, trailers and more
🍔 Midway Diner open all night

I’ll be introducing every film, sharing trivia and behind-the-scenes stories, and celebrating everything we love about horror, together. Can’t wait to see you there.