It was boots up and chairs back as hundreds parked up to watch Grease at the premiere of the Baypark Drive-In Movie Festival last night.

Adorned in the 1978 musical classic attire, fans got into the spirit of things for the start of a week-long festival that ends with Dirty Dancing on Sunday.

Tauranga Hospital maternity ward staff dressed up in theme and decorated their car.

ASB Baypark business manager Karen Gemmell says it was a full-house with an electric atmosphere.

'We had lots of the public dressed up. We probably had around 50 classic cars there.”
Karen estimates there were around 250 cars at the drive in, carrying around 800 filmgoers.
Karen is not expecting to have the same reception for tonight's Avengers movie because 'it's a different movie and a different crowd.

'Last night was Grease and it attracted a lot of the classic cars, Grease fans and a lot of musical people who like to sing along.

'Tonight is the Avengers, so there will be a completely different crowd. There will be lots of families, youths and people who like sci-fi movies.”

Karen says last night's movie was a success thanks to the help from a group of volunteers who helped co-ordinate the event.

'It went well considering the sell-out circumstances. We had some parking volunteers and the roller derby girls and in general they coped pretty well.

'We know the fan experience was really good.”

The Avengers will screen tonight followed by Raiders of the Lost, Anchorman, Back to the Future, Evil Dead II, Dirty Dancing, Fast and Furious 5 and Cars in the nights to come.

Emma Cooper, Eva McIsaac, 6, Lily Cooper, 6, and Hayley McIsaac.

Bluck and Crockett-Powell families getting comfortable before the movie.

Rachel, 8, and Lucy, 7, Carr at the Baypark Drive-In festival.

Emma, 10, Sarah, 14, and Holly, 12, Taia.

Elle Smith, 10, Dayna Humphries, 10, Lana Smith, 11, and Leona Smith.

Luke Judd and Hannah Thain.

Emma Collings, Olivia Gourlay, 9, Monique Pene, Jesse Pene and Bonnie Gourlay, 7, won the best dressed competition.

Sarah Adamson and Ange Hussey dressed up.