Fun new drive-in outdoor festivals will keep families entertained while staying socially distanced

The Drive-In Experience will give families the chance to get out and have fun following months of lockdown and is being staged at six locations across East Anglia including Peterborough’s East of England Showground. It will run from July 30 through to September 6.

The idea is you sit in the safety and comfort of your car with your bubble of friends or family and watch popular live music acts, laser shows, bands, DJs and comedians on a performance stage and transmitted onto a huge LED screen, while the sound is picked up via the FM frequency on your car radio.

Among the headline acts at the showground will be tribute to French pop act Daft Punk and legendary DJ Dave Pearce.

There will also be movies and live interactive games and food can be delivered to your vehicle or you can sit by your car on picnic chairs if you want.

The tour has been set up by East Anglian-based promoter Elliot White of Out of Space Events collaborating with Epic Studios and Jericho Entertainment. He said: “We want our events to deliver a fun-packed day of entertainment for everyone involved; our goal is to bring people together to enjoy unique experiences and create fond memories with families and friends whilst helping create sustainable employment opportunities for future generations to come.”

There will be four days of packed programmes at Peterborough showground from August 6 to 9, running every day from 12 noon through to 11pm. Each day’s events will see sessions ranging from a family movie or games fun, ideal for families with younger children, from 12-2pm; a live tribute band or music act, or live comedy combined with a DJ set through the afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.45pm and into the evening from 6.30pm to 8pm; and then more live music or a movie from 9.30pm to 11pm with this late session compèred by a talented host and expected to have a real gig-festival party atmosphere.

At Peterborough the experience will begin on Thursday August 6, from 12 - 2pm with The Lego Movie 2, 3.30 - 4.45pm - live stand up by Britain’s Got Talent comedian Ben Langley plus the Never Forget 90s DJ set, 6.15 - 7.45pm - more live stand up by Ben Langley and the Never Forget 00s DJ set, 9 - 11pm will be the movie Kevin & Perry Go Large.

Friday August 7 will be: 12 - 2pm the movie Mary Poppins Returns, 3.30 - 4.45pm - live comedy by hip-hop parody comic Mr B along with Chrome Hip-hop DJ set, 6.15 - 7.45pm - Bruno Mars tribute supporting Daft Funk Live, 9 - 11pm - Daft Funk Live and DJ set by Dave Pearce.

Saturday August 8, 12 - 2pm is the movie Sonic The Hedgehog, 3.30 - 4.45pm - YouTube sensation Tiny Tim supported by Never Forget 2010s DJ set, 6.15 - 7.45pm - live comedy Act The Squirrels, 9 - 11pm will be late movie, Grease.

Finally on Sunday August 9, 12.30 - 2pm - Let the Games Begin! will see interactive fun with an inventive take on TV game shows, pub quizzes and quickfire party games, with giveaways and prizes; 3.30 - 5pm will see a David Bowie tribute act, 6.30 - 8pm - more Let the Games Begin! 9.30 - 11pm will be a Beyonce tribute supported by the Never Forget R&B Classics DJ set.

Strict Covid social distancing measures will be in place throughout the venue. All payments and ticketing will be contactless.

Handwashing stations and toilet facilities with clear safety messaging will also be in place with social distancing measures monitored by on-site staff.

Mr White said: “The Drive-In Experience was created to bring a wide selection of entertainment to people who in challenging times want to come together and escape the monotony of everyday life to enjoy valuable times with friends and family in a safe and relaxed environment.

“Our giant LED video wall will be one of the main attractions for these unique, state of the art, interactive takes on the ever popular Drive In events. These entirely contact-free performances will contribute in helping restart live events all around the country whilst adhering to government social distancing guidelines.”

Tickets for each session cost £35 per car for up to five occupants, with additional occupants charged at £5 extra per person.

To buy tickets and for details of the programme for all sessions at each location, visit https://driveinexperience.uk/