Mike Cole is hosting Godzilla Stomp at Tiffin Drive-In Theater on Aug. 22-24. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

TIFFIN – Godzilla is coming to Tiffin.

On Aug. 22 to 24, the Tiffin Drive-In Theater will host the 2nd Annual Godzilla Stomp featuring multiple Godzilla movies, Japanese pop culture merchandise sales, Godzilla-themed food and a talk by a Japanese culture expert. The event will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the original movie, “Godzilla,” that premiered in 1954.

“Godzilla arrived at the height of the drive-in theater craze,” said Tiffin Drive-In Theater owner, Mike Cole. “Godzilla was a big part of drive-ins, so this is the perfect venue for this event.”

The event will feature six Godzilla movies shown over three days.

Friday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 24:

• Invasion of Astro-Monster
• Godzilla vs. Megalon
• Godzilla vs. Biollante

Saturday, Aug. 23:

• The Return of Godzilla
• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
• Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster

Otakumerica, a company specializing in Japanese pop culture merchandise, will set up at the Godzilla Stomp to sell toys, games, stickers, pins, posters and other collectibles.

“They specialize in everything Godzilla and Kaiju, which is all of the Japanese monster characters and other Japanese pop culture items,” Cole said. “Almost all of it is imported from Japan.”

Godzilla Stomp will feature movies, merchandise and a talk on Japanese culture. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

On Saturday, prior to the first movie, Dr. Jeffrey Angles will give a talk about Godzilla and Kaiju. Angles is a Professor of Japanese Culture and Literature at Western Michigan University. Angles spent two years translating two pop classic books, “Godzilla” and “Godzilla Raids Again” that were written in Japan in the 1950s. The books were published in 2023, giving English-speaking readers their first opportunity to read them. Angles has attended several Comic Cons to speak about the project, and now Godzilla fans can hear him speak right in Tiffin.

Godzilla-themed foods will be offered throughout the weekend inside the theater’s Moon Lite Diner alongside all of the everyday favorites like hamburgers, coney dogs, pizza, nachos, candy and popcorn.

Godzilla Stomp is already attracting Godzilla fans from across the Midwest.

“People from Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky have already bought tickets,” Cole said.

Each night, the gates will open at 7:30 p.m., and the first move will begin at dusk, which will be about 8:45 p.m. In addition to the diner, the theater features a playground for kids. The next big event will be the 50th anniversary rerelease of “Jaws” over Labor Day weekend.

Tiffin Drive-In Theater is located at 4101 N State Route 53 in Tiffin. Tickets for Godzilla Stomp and all movies can be purchased at the box office or online. For more information about Godzilla Stomp, this week’s movie lineup, or tickets, visit www.tiffindriveintheater.com.