DeLorean, ‘Back to the Future’ are Stars of Major Friday Movie/Car Event

What started off as just the third installment of the Recreation Department’s Movies Under the Stars program, has grown into something much, much, more. This Friday’s event will include not just a movie, but the opportunity for attendees to check out an actual DeLorean, similar to the one featured in the iconic Back to the Future.

The event begins at 6 p.m.

The featured presentation - Back To The Future – is an iconic comedy/fantasy film that takes the audience on a fun-filled, and quite humorous, ride back in time.

“What then, could be more fitting than to have a real DeLorean visit the park before the movie?” Avon Lake Recreation Department Director Gary Gerrone said. “As it turns out, adding an assemblage of today’s, real, futuristic cars fits the bill pretty good too.”

That assemblage includes the Ford C-Max; Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, Fisker karma, and Telsa Model S as well as Clipper Creek Electric Vehicle Charging Stations; Earth Day Coalition; Clean Fuels Ohio; and a LEEDCo Power Pledge signing station.

In addition to watching the movie on a giant, inflatable screen at Weiss Field on a blanket or lawn chair, attendees will get the full “auto treatment,” similar to when the city passed out seedlings at an earlier showing of The Lorax.

Gerrone said the success of seedlings at The Lorax feature led to an “almost off-the-cuff question,” “Does anyone know where we can get a DeLorean?”

The Friends of the Park managed to locate one of the fabled cars in the Greater Cleveland area and the idea of adding more futuristic-type cars grew.

“Gary approached me asking for some help in publicizing the event when it was just a movie and obtaining the DeLorean was a concept,” Avon Lake Councilwoman Jennifer Fenderbosch, a staunch “green” advocate said.

Fenderbosch is one of the Lorain County representatives on the Great Lakes Energy Development Taskforce. “I had contacts from other events that could be called upon for Friday's Electric Car and Movie ‘Back to the Future Event,’" she said.

Fenderbosch suggested expanding the event to include a car show with futuristic electric vehicles that are here today.

“…before we knew it First Federal of Lakewood became a sponsor and car dealers from the area, owners of the Tesla S and Roadster along with vendors from Columbus, Cleveland and Michigan wanted to be part of the excitement,” Fenderbosch said. She added it was a natural step to include a car charging station vendor, alternative fuel vehicles and the wind turbine corporation LEEDCo in the event.

The grounds at Weiss Field will open at 6 p.m. The movie will begin at 8:40 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to watch the movie.

The movie and Electric Vehicle event are free. There is a nominal fee for photo opportunities with the DeLorean and for concessions.