The Malta Drive-In is going full Christmas this weekend, even though it is still technically October. The seasonal theater is closing out its 2026 run with two nights of holiday movies, a Santa visit, a toy drive and free hot chocolate for the first 300 kids through the gate.
According to the Malta Drive-In's official website, the first 300 child admissions will receive a bell from Santa's sleigh along with a golden ticket redeemable for a complimentary hot chocolate. Santa Nick will also be on hand for free photo opportunities, and guests can enter a holiday giveaway during the weekend's festivities.
As reported by NEWS10 ABC, the drive-in is celebrating Christmas during its final weekend of the 2026 season, with holiday movies and festive activities running Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24. The box office opens at 5 p.m. both nights, the station's report notes.
What's Playing, and a Scheduling Discrepancy
NEWS10 ABC's own coverage contains two different versions of the lineup. Its Friday report says screen 1 will show The Polar Express at 7 p.m. both nights, followed by Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at 8:50 p.m., while screen 2 will run Elf at 7:05 p.m. followed by National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation at 8:50 p.m. A separate, earlier NEWS10 report instead lists The Polar Express at 7:15 p.m. and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation at 8:40 p.m. The two accounts do not match, and it is unclear which times will ultimately apply.
Guests are encouraged to wear festive attire or Christmas pajamas for the occasion, the drive-in's site notes. Film critic Lights Camera Jackson is also scheduled to appear Friday with signed copies of his book, My Very Rocky Christmas, available for purchase, per the theater's listing.
A Toy Drive Alongside the Double Feature
The Malta Ridge Fire Department will be accepting donations for Toys for Tots during the event, according to the drive-in's website. Guests who bring an unwrapped new toy or donate at least $10 will earn a voucher for a complimentary medium popcorn, the same posting states.
Those hoping to bring their own snacks can do so for a fee: an Outside Food and Beverage permit costs $7 per vehicle for each evening, per the theater's site. General admission for the 2026 season runs $12 for adults 12 and older and $7 for children 11 and under, according to Saratoga.com.
A Long Run in Saratoga County
The Malta Drive-In Theatre first opened in 1949 and has remained a seasonal fixture in the Capital Region ever since, Saratoga.com notes. The site describes the theater as generally open from April through October, offering double features across its two screens. Co-owner Ed Carow has been running the theater for more than 30 years, the station's report adds.
This year's closing weekend also carries extra significance: an earlier NEWS10 report described the event as tied to the drive-in's 75th anniversary and its first-ever Christmas program, though it is unclear whether that anniversary framing applies to this particular weekend's event.
Once the credits roll Saturday night, the lights go dark for the winter. The drive-in's website states plainly that there will be no more movies for the rest of the season and that it plans to reopen in April 2027. Saratoga.com reported that the 2026 season's opening weekend had run April 24 through 26, giving a sense of just how long area moviegoers will wait before the screens light up again.
