- Gets dark7:29 pmGates open 8:00 pm
- Google rating4.601234567890123456789reviews
- Screens1
- Outside foodAllowed
- FM100.5 FM
- Car spots350
- Opened1953
The Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theater sits on US-2 outside Manistique, on the site of the drive-in J. L.
LeDuc opened in 1953. The nonprofit Upper Peninsula Film Union reopened it in 2016 and now runs it as a free, donation-supported community venue, with a concession stand operated by a different local nonprofit at each event.
Location
Where is Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre?
Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre is at US-2, Manistique, MI 49854. The entrance is at Klagstad Road. The closest highway is US-2.
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Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- Mariner's Cove Restaurant
- Kewadin Casinos Manistique Restaurant
- Three Seasons Cafe
Start time
What time does the movie start at Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre?
What Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre says: One reviewer in 2024 says the gates open early but the movie does not start until dark in summer.
In October the sun sets around 6:59 pm and it gets dark around 7:29 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre promises, and some drive-ins start the movie before it. Plan to be parked by sunset.
Here is when it gets dark in each month, from May to October, on the 15th.
| Month | Gets dark |
|---|---|
| May | 9:44 pm |
| June | 10:15 pm |
| July | 10:09 pm |
| August | 9:26 pm |
| September | 8:27 pm |
| October | 7:29 pm |
For more on what time it gets dark and when drive-ins really start their movies, read our start-time guide.
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- You can bring your own food and drink
- Admission: free at all regular movie events, donations welcomed but not required
- Concession stand: run by a different local nonprofit at each event as a fundraiser, over $55,000 raised for regional nonprofits to date
- Film Club: monthly film discussion event since November 2018, $25 annual membership plus $10 per event, includes fresh popcorn
- Has hosted drive-in concerts (Garth Brooks 2020, Blake Shelton and Metallica 2020, Jon Bon Jovi 2021) via Encore Live, plus a graduation ceremony, Girl Scout bridging ceremony and Trunk-or-Treat
- Restrooms available on-site, per reviewer (type not specified: building or portable)
- Gates open early but movie doesn't show until dark in summer.
- Spent nearly $50 on concessions despite it being a 'free movie night'. $10 for a bucket of popcorn.
Reviews
What visitors say about Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre
From 28 visitor reviews, 4.6 stars.
Free, donation-based movie nights
- Three reviews spanning 2023 to 2026 describe every movie night as free, with donations welcomed but not required.
- The most recent review (August 2026) adds that concessions (pizza, candy, popcorn, slushies) and restrooms are on site, and that bringing your own food for the car is fine.
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens 8:00 pm
- Budget for concessions even though admission is free: a 2022 reviewer reported spending nearly $50, including $10 for a bucket of popcorn, in one visit.
- Gates open well before showtime: a 2024 reviewer notes the movie doesn't start until after dark in summer, so expect a wait after arrival.
History
The history of Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre
Built and opened in 1953 by J. L. LeDuc as the US-2 Drive-In. Renamed Cinema Two in 1972 under David Vaughan, then sold to William Giles in 1995. Closed in 2001, the last drive-in remaining in Michigan's Upper Peninsula at the time.
Sat dormant 15 years until the Upper Peninsula Film Union, a nonprofit formed in 2016, began hosting movie events with the property owner's permission, screening its first film on July 15, 2016. The Film Union acquired the property in October 2018 and renamed it the Hwy 2 Community Drive-In Theater, running it as a free, donation-supported community venue with concessions operated by a rotating local nonprofit at each event.
FAQ
Questions about Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre, answered
How many screens does Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre have?
Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre has one screen. Everybody on the lot watches the same film, so there is nothing to choose when you arrive. Park where you like, tune your radio and wait for the light to go.
What FM frequency does Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre use?
Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre broadcasts its soundtrack on 100.5 FM. The audio comes through your own car stereo rather than a speaker on a post. If your car cannot run its radio with the engine off, bring a portable one.
What time does the movie start at Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre?
What Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre says: One reviewer in 2024 says the gates open early but the movie does not start until dark in summer. In October it gets dark around 7:29 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
When is Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre open?
For the 2026 season, Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre is open from May to October. It closes for the winter and reopens in the spring, so a trip outside those months is not possible.
Can I bring my own food to Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre?
You can bring your own food and drink to Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theatre at no extra charge. Pack a cooler and the tickets are the only thing you pay for. The counter is still there if you would rather buy dinner when you arrive.
Nearby