As the release of the eighth and final "Harry Potter" film looms and fans dust off their magic wands, Rosemont's historic drive-in counts down to the midnight show with even more glee: It'll be projecting the biggest version in the area.
The on Oates Drive just off Bradshaw Road will present "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," in a whopping 90 feet by 45 feet display. Tony Maniscalco with West Wind Drive-Ins said the IMAX screen is about 82 feet wide; most walk-in theaters have screens about 36 feet across.
"That's one of the things about the drive-in, the screen is so big. We'll put that [film] on the biggest screen we have," Maniscalco said.
The theater recently got new projection technology to make the big screen much brighter, Maniscalco said.
Tickets to Friday's 12:01 a.m. show can't be bought in advance. Muggles looking to watch "Harry" at the should get there a little early.
"We're expecting good crowds," Maniscalco said.
The drive-in saw record-breaking business last weekend, Maniscalco said, with movie-lovers flocking in to see "Zookeeper" and "Horrible Bosses."
Tickets are $6.95 for general admission, children ages 5-11 are $1. Kids younger than 5 are free.
