The Santa Barbara Drive-In will be a surfer’s paradise tonight, showing a double-feature of the classic 35mm surfing films “Big Wednesday” and “Riding Giants.”

The screening is part of a Surfrider fundraiser to preserve the Gaviota Coast. Funds will support education and outreach programs for the area, which has wildlife that is found nowhere else in the world, but is diminishing due to increased urbanization.

Scott Bull is in charge of development for the Santa Barbara chapter of the foundation and said Gaviota is at the top of their priority list.

“The Gaviota Coast is one of the last California open coastal spaces,” Bull said. “The funds for this event are going to go to our ‘Save Gaviota Campaign.’ That campaign is working to preserve the rural character of the Gaviota coast that is threatened by several large-scale development proposals on the coast.”

The drive-in is located just minutes from campus on South Kellogg Road. The theater, which had been closed for 19 years, re-opened this past summer with a fundraiser for aid efforts in Haiti. After the benefit, community interest on Facebook influenced the permanent re-opening of the theater.

Tony Maniscalco, vice president of marketing for Syufy Enterprises, which owns the theatre, said the Surfrider fundraiser is perfect for the end of the summer.

“We were looking for an organization that was unique and something that was close to the community,” Maniscalco said. “With Santa Barbara being our only location that is coastal, we felt like Surfrider would be an organization that would lend itself well.”

Bull noted that the fundraiser will be one of the largest Surfrider has put on this year.

“We’re very excited about this and we think its going to be a huge success,” Bull said.

Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. and admission for the double-feature is $7 per person. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free. The foundation is asking for cash only, and an FM car stereo or portable radio is required to hear the films. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Surfrider Foundation.

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