Photos: Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre patrons relish in nostalgia
Harkening back to another era, the reopening of the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre in Jefferson, Wis. offers drive-in movie enthusiasts a regional connection to a unique summer outing.
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Alma Herrmann of Racine and Tommy Pethan, who lives in the Cross Plains area, met on Thursday at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre near Jefferson to take in two movies. As “The Greatest Showman,” began, the couple shared the back of a van. The second movie of the night was “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The drive-in is one of only eight remaining in Wisconsin.
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After being closed for the 2025 season, the 73-year-old Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre west of Jefferson reopened Thursday. The 20-acre property has a new owner and is open Thursdays through Sundays.
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Opening night on Thursday at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre west of Jefferson was crisp. Blankets and stocking caps were common as “The Greatest Showman” began just before 9 p.m.
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Jason Fiege purchased the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre last fall after the theatre was closed for the 2025 season. Over the past seven months he has made several improvements and has learned how to operate the digital projection system. He is seen here on Thursday night starting a Bugs Bunny cartoon that played before the double feature.
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Keaton Chard, 15, and his sister, Eden, 9, work the drive-up ticket booth Thursday as customers arrive for opening night at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre. Schyler Wixom drove from of Madison to buy a ticket and watch the movies, the first of which started just before 9 p.m.
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A 1995 Chevy Silverado became a movie lounge on Thursday at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre for a group of seniors from Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills. From left are Haylie Reese, of Delafield; Hunter Schwab, of Fort Atkinson; Kaelynn Gulczynski, Lake Mills; Katie Abel of Fort Atkinson, and Ashlyn Jones, of Johnson Creek.
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Lily Falk, left, and Clara Davis, both 10 and from Edgerton, share the roof of Clara’s mother’s car on opening night of the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre season near Jefferson.
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Awaiting dusk, children climb over the vintage play structures at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre near Jefferson. The theater opened in 1953.
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Holden Fiege, 7, son of owner Jason Fiege, tends a popcorn maker during the opening night of the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre’s 2026 season.
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Paul Johnston of Jefferson clears his windshield before rho start of the featured attraction at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
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Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre patrons carry blankets to the bed of a pickup truck during a visit to the drive-in movie theater in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. From left are Ashlyn Jones of Johnson Creek, Wis., Haylie Reese of Delafield, Wis., Katie Abel of Fort Atkinson, Wis., Hunter Schwab of Fort Atkinson and Kaelynn Gulczynski of Lake Mills, Wis. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
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Karen Erbs holds her four-month-old son, Luke, while conversing with her daughter, Hailee, 5, during a visit to the concession stand at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
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Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre owner Jason Fiege prepares to open his business for the summer season in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
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Beneath a neon sign marking the entrance to the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre, a vehicle arrives for an evening showing at the drive-in cinema in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
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Holden Fiege, 7, attempts to lure patrons in the business owned by his father, Jason, during the opening night of the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre’s summer season in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
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Opening night on Thursday at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre west of Jefferson was crisp. Blankets and stocking caps were common as “The Greatest Showman” began just before 9 p.m.
Highway-18-Outdoor-Theatre-09-20260521-227032.jpg
Paul Johnston of Jefferson clears his windshield before rho start of the featured attraction at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Highway-18-Outdoor-Theatre-11-20260521-225749.jpg
Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre patrons carry blankets to the bed of a pickup truck during a visit to the drive-in movie theater in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. From left are Ashlyn Jones of Johnson Creek, Wis., Haylie Reese of Delafield, Wis., Katie Abel of Fort Atkinson, Wis., Hunter Schwab of Fort Atkinson and Kaelynn Gulczynski of Lake Mills, Wis. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Highway-18-Outdoor-Theatre-12-20260521-226794.jpg
Karen Erbs holds her four-month-old son, Luke, while conversing with her daughter, Hailee, 5, during a visit to the concession stand at the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Highway-18-Outdoor-Theatre-13-20260521-225635.jpg
Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre owner Jason Fiege prepares to open his business for the summer season in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Highway-18-Outdoor-Theatre-14-20260521-226637.jpg
Beneath a neon sign marking the entrance to the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre, a vehicle arrives for an evening showing at the drive-in cinema in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Highway-18-Outdoor-Theatre-15-20260521-225342.jpg
Holden Fiege, 7, attempts to lure patrons in the business owned by his father, Jason, during the opening night of the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre’s summer season in Jefferson, Wis. Thursday, May 21, 2026. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
The 73-year-old theater was closed for the 2025 season but has a new owner and reopened on Thursday night.
