‘This is huge’: Major League Baseball to hold America250 event at suburban drive-in

Major League Baseball is coming to the McHenry Outdoor Theater in Lakemoor, sort of.

The theater was one of four drive-ins nationally selected by MLB as part of its America250 celebration on July 4.

The festivities will include a showing of the classic childhood baseball movie “The Sandlot” and a live screening of that night’s Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game. They’ll also have MLB Ballpark Bites and baseball-themed activities, including Wiffle ball, a pop fly scramble and virtual batting cages.

A fireworks display will cap off the night at the drive-in at 1510 N. Chapel Hill Road.

“From a community standpoint, this is huge,” Joe Cicero, the theater’s president of marketing and promotions, said in a news release. “To be recognized by Major League Baseball doesn’t happen every day.”

Other selected sites for the Fourth of July Summer Drive-in Celebration are in California, Georgia and New Jersey.

Theater owner Scott Dehn said in the release that the event is a perfect pairing for America’s semiquincentennial.

“What’s more American than baseball and drive-ins?” Dehn said.

While the initial allotment of tickets made available by MLB sold shortly after being posted online, the theater is holding a drawing to win carload passes for the event at goldenagecinemas.com/carloadcontest.

About 10 winners will be posted on the McHenry Outdoor Theater Facebook page on June 26 and July 1.

Gates will open at 4 p.m., as will the MLB’s Ballpark Bites stand, Play Ball Zone and Keepsake Dugout.

The movie is scheduled to start at 5 p.m., with the Cubs vs. Cardinals game’s start time at 7:08 p.m. MLB crews will erect a roughly 43-feet tall by 25-feet wide LED screen in front of the theater’s big screen that will be bright enough for daylight viewing.

The McHenry Outdoor Theater is currently open seven nights a week. Showtimes, regular pricing, value deals and other details are available at goldenagecinemas.com.