COTC to Host 50th Anniversary Family-Friendly Drive-In Movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”

As part of its 50th-anniversary celebration, Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) invites all members of the public to a free, family-friendly drive-in movie featuring the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” on Saturday, October 9, at 7 p.m.

Attendees can watch this family-favorite film starring Gene Wilder on a large outdoor screen at the college’s Newark campus, 1179 University Drive, parking lot C, adjacent to Country Club Drive.

The first 200 attendees will receive a free 50th-anniversary Wonka Bar; five bars will include a golden ticket that entitles each winner to a fun prize. All can enjoy free popcorn, candy and ice cream and get a photo taken with several characters from the movie, including Willy Wonka, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde and an Oompa-Loompa. All are welcome to view the screening from their cars or bring a lawn chair and blanket. “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” was originally released in 1971, the year that COTC was chartered.

COTC 50th Anniversary Ice Cream

Drive-in movie attendees will also be treated to COTC’s 50th-anniversary ice cream, Berry Rumble, a limited-release new Velvet Ice Cream® flavor produced exclusively for COTC’s 50th anniversary. In spring 2020, the college received almost 1,000 votes in a public campaign to select the flavor. The fruity blend of strawberry, blueberry and blackberry ice cream will be available at all COTC 50th-anniversary events and is available for purchase at Velvet’s Ye Olde Mill in Utica.

COTC is celebrating 50 years of providing high-quality education leading to in-demand careers for central Ohioans. The college kicked off its year-long 50th-anniversary celebration on July 1. To learn more about COTC’s 50th-anniversary, visit cotc.edu/50th-anniversary.