October 21, 2015 was a date circled on calendars for decades. It was the day that Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, travels forward to in “Back to the Future Part II,” and when it finally arrived, fans around the world found ways to mark the occasion. In Lancaster County, there were several ways to celebrate and connect with the films without ever leaving the area.
Here were five local ways to mark Back to the Future Day.
1. Take a selfie with a DeLorean
What better way to prove to your past or future self that you survived the day than with a photo beside a DeLorean, the stainless steel car that Doc Brown turns into a time machine? One was on display at Horsepower Enterprises, a classic car dealership in downtown Lancaster at 939 N. Prince St.
The DeLorean DMC-12, with its gull-wing doors and brushed steel body, remains one of the most recognizable cars in movie history. Seeing one in person is a treat for fans who grew up with the films.
2. Buy a DeLorean
For fans with a bigger budget, the same car was for sale. The 1981 DeLorean sitting in the Horsepower Enterprises showroom was priced at $30,000, and it came complete with a replica “flux capacitor,” the device that, in the movies, makes time travel possible.
The dealership’s operations manager showed off the flux capacitor to visitors, a fitting accessory for any buyer hoping to recreate a little movie magic in the driveway.
3. Watch the original in theaters
Penn Cinema brought the original 1985 blockbuster back to the big screen for one night only. The screening was set for 7 p.m., with tickets priced at $11 for adults and $8.50 for children and seniors.
Seeing the film in a theater offered a different experience than watching it at home. Audiences could share the jokes, cheer for the clock tower scene and soak in Alan Silvestri’s soaring score on a full sound system.
4. Binge the trilogy
For those who could not get enough, Penn Cinema also offered a marathon of all three films starting at 6 p.m. Tickets for the marathon were $20 and available through Fandango. Fans who preferred to stay home could stream the trilogy instead.
Watching the three films back to back highlights how cleverly they fit together, with scenes in each movie echoing and revisiting moments from the others.
5. Go to a Back to the Future party
The Brickyard in Lancaster, at 415 N. Prince St., held a special party that night with movie memorabilia, a showing of the film and a trivia contest starting at 6:30 p.m. For those who could not make it, there was always the option of throwing a party of their own.
Why the day mattered
When “Back to the Future Part II” was released in 1989, the year 2015 seemed impossibly far off. The film imagined flying cars, self-lacing sneakers, hoverboards and holographic movie advertisements. As the real date approached, fans and journalists enjoyed comparing those predictions with reality.
Some of the film’s visions had arrived in some form, such as video calls and flat-screen televisions. Others, like flying cars and true hoverboards, remained in the realm of fiction. That gap between imagination and reality was part of the fun.
Across the country, fans dressed as characters, posted photos with DeLoreans and gathered for screenings. Companies released products inspired by the film, and cities held their own celebrations.
A local connection to a global moment
In Lancaster County, the celebrations were smaller but no less enthusiastic. A classic car showroom, a movie theater and a downtown venue gave fans a chance to share their love of the films with neighbors.
For many people, the trilogy is tied to memories of childhood, family movie nights and first trips to the theater. Back to the Future Day offered a reason to revisit those memories and to introduce the films to a new generation.
As Doc Brown might say, the future is whatever you make it. On October 21, 2015, Lancaster County made it a celebration.