Near Clarksburg, a drive-in movie theater died out. It was connected to a restaurant that burned to the ground. When Harrison County purchased the property, it was decided to scrap the theater part of the property. One official stated that no one goes to drive-in theaters anymore.
Someone should get those folks to Franklin.
In recent years, Warner’s Drive-In has steadily worked to expand its venue’s capability to entertain. Grant funding came through last year to cover the construction of the Starlight music and theater stage. Meanwhile, the showing of a balanced mixture of family and “grown-up” films along with the widely-heralded reputation of the concession stand has kept the theater well-attended on movie nights.
The mixture of an atmosphere from a nostalgic past combined with modern amenities and multiple entertainment options has made Warner’s Drive-In a “must see” for many. As Katie VanMeter, a board member, has explained, “The theater is a piece of local history preserved, but also maintained and continually tweaked to ensure it will entertain well into the future.”
With concerts added to the slate of entertainment for 2026, the next logical step for Warner’s Drive-In lay in putting together a big community party. WarnerFest will welcome the community from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
“The idea for WarnerFest actually took root shortly after we unveiled the Starlight Stage in September 2025,” said Jessica Basagic, who serves as chair for Warner’s board of directors. She went on to relate, “We wanted to create an end-of-season celebration that would bring people together to enjoy live music, local vendors, great food, and, most importantly, one another.”
While tourists rave over the “retro” feel of a drive-in theater in a uniquely beautiful setting, the venue has remained popular with locals and those in neighboring counties as well. Whether one brings the kids to an animated blockbuster or a date to a scary or action type of film, Warner’s works hard to entertain a broad spectrum of fans.
“For Warner’s lovers of both types, we wanted it to be something like a true celebration of everything that makes our community special,” added Basagic.
Headlining the day is a return visitor, the Soda Pop Gypsies. Their site describes them as “a vibrant four-piece jam band from Barbour County” that spans different genres popular in West Virginia with high-energy performances.
They played Troutfest in May and have performed for audiences in Charleston, Martinsburg, Grantsville, Parsons, and elsewhere during the summer.
Rain Crow and the Jesse Milnes Band will perform as well. In case of inclement weather, a large tent will be available for protection from sun or rain.
The event will welcome children for free, but charge $5 for adults. Said Basagic, “We consider this event a fundraiser . . . because every $5 adult admission goes directly toward helping us maintain and improve Warner’s Drive-In.” Funds specifically support the maintenance of the grounds, facilities, “and being able to bring you fantastic entertainment during the summer months.”
Basagic explained that Warner’s could not have succeeded without tremendous support from the broader community. “Seeing local businesses, neighbors, musicians, and community members jump in to help us build something new has reminded us that Warner’s Drive-In is about so much more than movies,” she said.
VanMeter shared that “we want people to make their own memories here and feel like Warner’s is a place they can truly call home.”
“The support we’ve received from the community has been incredibly moving,” said Basagic. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped bring this vision to life and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at WarnerFest.”
