Morden's Stardust Drive-In to stay open, thanks to donors

The show will go on at the Stardust Drive-In, after donors gave more than $30,000 to help keep the Morden, Man., outdoor movie theatre open.

A Kickstarter campaign has raised $32,000 to help the Nelson family, which owns the theatre, pay for new digital projection equipment. Donations pushed past the goal of $30,000 in 30 days.

Wednesday is the last day of the online campaign. More than $10,000 has been donated in the last 24 hours alone.

"I cannot believe the support we've gotten," Kayla Nelson, who ran the Kickstarter campaign, told CBC News.

"I woke up and they told us it hit $30,000 and I couldn't believe it."

In addition to the online campaign, the family also raised money locally and asked community members to spread the word.

"Oh, it was just nerve-wracking. And I tell you, people just dug down deep. That's the only way I can put it," said co-owner Marlene Nelson.

"I'm not just speaking of strictly Morden, though Morden's fantastic. I'm talking about all of southern Manitoba and beyond. We had a donation that was from Phoenix, Arizona."

Marlene Nelson said the new equipment will cost about $90,000 and should be ready by August or September.

Until then, the Stardust will keep showing movies with its old 35-millimetre projector, she added.

Killarney drive-in raising money, too

The Stardust is one of the only drive-in theatres left in Manitoba.

• Killarney's drive-in theatre to close this summer
• Winnipeg's last drive-in theatre fades to black

The Shamrock Drive-In, located in Killarney, Man., is also hoping to raise money for a digital projector with fundraising events this summer and its own online campaign.

The Shamrock's Fundrazr campaign has received $3,000 of its $25,000 goal to date.

In 2008, the Cineplex Odeon Drive-In just outside Winnipeg shut down.