There are plenty of great things to enjoy about the holiday season! Amongst the most fun are the many traditions that wouldn’t make sense any other time of the year. Bringing trees in our home to decorate, hanging mistletoe around the house, putting elves on our shelves to spy on us, and leaving milk and cookies out for Santa are just a few of the many unique actions we get to take at the end of the year. The Magic City takes things one step further with the annual playing of favorite Christmas movies at the Alabama Theatre in December. Nothing says “Happy holidays” like a Wurlitzer Opus 1783 organ leading the tunes, and this seeming rarity happens in abundance in Birmingham over the holidays. Here are a few upcoming chances to take part in the fun. All movie tickets are $10 with the exception of The Polar Express, which will be $12 to help raise money for Kid One Transport. There are plenty of Christmas classics to see! Here are some upcoming opportunities.
It’s a Wonderful Life on Tuesday, December 13th at 7pm and Sunday, December 18th at 7pm
I think we’ve said the famous quote “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings” at least once! This emotional flick tells the story of when “an angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.”
The Nightmare Before Christmas on Thursday, December 15th at 7pm
Tim Burton provided quite a bizarre experience with this holiday-blending treasure that blends the best parts of Halloween and Christmas. The movie details what occurs when “Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.”
A Christmas Story on Friday, December 16th at 7pm
One of the most iconic holiday movies ever made features Red Rid BB Guns and leg lamps well-known items, and is known for creating a fear of licking cold objects and triple dog dares for those who watch it. This is a holiday must-watch.
Cartoon Matinee Triple Feature on Saturday, December 17th at 2pm and Tuesday, December 20th at 2pm
Three Christmas cartoons that have been loved since the 1960s will be enjoyed together by a festive Birmingham audience. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! will all be played at this fun screening.
White Christmas: Sing Along! On Sunday, December 18th at 2pm
White Christmas returns but with a focus on Birmingham voices joining the singing of Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and a mirage of all-time talents in classic songs like the movie’s namesake.
Elf on Monday, December 19th at 2pm
While this may be a shock to some, most won’t be surprised to hear the hilarious antics of Buddy the Elf have sold out a few shows but there is still time to see this Christmas epic. It’s sure to be a fun experience and the 20th will be a great chance to do so.
Die Hard on Wednesday, December 21st at 7pm
This Bruce Willis thrill is an action-packed adventure. More importantly, it is the perfect representation of the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate each year. It is the definition of a gift that keeps on giving.
Cover image by Joshua Weichman
