The Mahoning Drive-In Theater, located on Seneca Road near Lehighton, will open its gates for its 77th season on Friday with the traditional opening weekend 35 mm double feature of “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971), with a super cheesy special guest.

Representatives from Ricos Products, inventors of concession nachos, all the way from San Antonio, Texas, will be selling Ricos merchandise and showing off the famous Ricos Nachos truck, along with drive-in icon Rico himself in person to meet his adoring fans.

Ricos has become a cult obsession with Mahoning fans, the classic animated snack bar ad playing every night for decades.

Both films will also play on Saturday night, with the order reversed. The on-site season celebration will include costumed characters, a photo op, a Golden Ticket Contest, and more of the immersive, film-loving festivities that lure attendees from across the country year after year. Gates will open at 6 p.m. each night, with films starting at sundown.

“It’s always a thrill to be back after our winter slumber,” said Virgil Cardamone, Mahoning operator and film booker, “but this year is even more exciting, partnering with Ricos. It’s a huge thrill to have them driving halfway across the country to meet fans of their products, and have Rico himself here to hang with the crowd. Every night we run the classic Ricos animated ad (and) people yell out Rico! It’s a dream come true having them join us to start our season.”

Cardamone said that the Mahoning has recently upgraded aspects of its 35 mm projectors to give audiences a brighter image for the over 200 films hitting the Mahoning Drive-In screen between April and the last weekend in October, including annual events like Zombie Fest, Ghostbusters and Studio Ghibli weekends.

Local artists have also been at work creating a mural that runs along one side of the snack bar, honoring former Mahoning Drive-In owner and master projectionist Jeff Mattox, and the magic of 35 mm film presentation.

The Mahoning Drive-In Theater, the only drive-in theater in the country whose programming is entirely classic movies presented on 35 mm film, is located at 635 Seneca Road west of Lehighton. It was built in 1947, and opened for its first season in 1949. A full list of events and ticket links can be found at www.mahoningdit.com or on the drive-in’s Facebook page.