They say that seeing is believing. And with Christmas less than a week away (which I simply CANNOT believe! But that’s a whole other post…) if you need help getting into the holiday spirit, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center has the cure. This Saturday, they are holding a Christmas Film Festival. And this is no wimpy festival. Nope! It’s a legit, full-on day filled with holiday goodness. And if you leave feeling like a Scrooge, well I just can’t help you.

About the Films

Speaking of holiday goodness, let’s get to the films! The day’s fest will include 8 holiday classics, including an hour long cartoon block featuring several very classic holiday cartoons. I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. In case you’re not versed in all films holidays, here’s a quick synopsis of this Saturday’s movies. For even more information about each film, click on it’s name.

Starting off this holiday film fest is The Little Christmas Burro,a 197o’s cartoon that tells the tale of an underdog donkey who is befriended by a traveling stranger. And I just bet you’re smart enough to guess who this stranger is. In case you’re stumped I’ll give you a hint: the journey ends in a manger.

Next up is a film known by many names: Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet, March of the Wooden Soldiers and Wooden Soldiers. (we’ll stick to March of the Wooden Soldiers here) This 1930’s classic takes some of your favorite characters from Mother Goose and pit them against an evil landlord. To find out who wins this epic battle, you’ll have to come to the Space and Rocket Center and catch this classic Laurel and Hardy comedy.

Santa and the Three Bears brings us back to the magical world of cartoons. This enchanting tale lets us into the lives of a very special family of bears. You’ll watch and see how they first discover the magic and wonder of Christmas.

If your kids have never seen the good holiday cartoons (I’m talking the legit classic ones), then our next block is a must attend. Even if your kids have seen these cartoons, they’re always worth another watch. And who says you need to be a kid to watch them? Grab your friends and family and spread some holiday cheer. Here’s the complete list of awesome you’ll enjoy:

• Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – 8min
• Santa’s Surprise – 8min
• The Christmas Visitor – 8min
• Hector’s Hectic Life – 8min
• The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives – 8min
• Christmas Comes but Once a Year – 8min

Santa Claus is put on trail for insanity in Miracle on 34th Street. Will Santa prevail or will there be a lot of disapointed little boys and girls on Christmas morning? Find out in this 1960’s adaptation of the classic film.

Holiday Affair (1961 TV Version) tells the story of a Christmas-season romance between a young widow and a sales clerk. This seems like a run of the mill romance this particular sales clerk is unemployed thanks to his new lady. Will their new love survive this bump in the road?

Charles Dickens’ holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol, receives a faithful film adaptation in Scrooge. Watch as literature’s greatest miser is visited by ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Will these ghosts convince Scrooge to change his ways? Will his heart of stone transform into a loving one?

The festival closes with the film Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and the short film Santa in Animal Land. You may recognize this campy 1960’s cult classic from Mystery Science Theater 3000. This film tells the bizarre tale of Martians who kidnap Santa Claus for the children of Mars.

Schedule and Run Times

Now that you know what the films are about, let’s talk times. Here is the schedule for the day:

The following films are included with admission to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

• 11:00 AM – The Little Christmas Burro, Runs 23min
• 11:30 AM – March of the Wooden Soldiers, Runs 77min
• 1:00 PM – Santa and the Three Bears – 46min
• 2:00 PM – Classic Christmas Cartoon Block, Runs 48min
• 3:00 PM – Miracle on 34th Street (TV Version), Runs 46min
• 4:00 PM – Holiday Affair (TV Version) – 46min

The follow films below are free. They will be shown in the Davidson Center.

• 5:00 PM – Scrooge – 78min
• 7:00 PM – Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (with Santa in Animal Land – 9min)

How it Works

So now that you’re ready to get your holiday spirit on this Saturday, let me explain how the festival will work.

• Make your own schedule: You can watch all the movies, one movie or any combination in-between. This is not an all or nothing festival. You can come and go as you please.
• Cost: Day times films (films starting from 11am-4pm) are included with museum admission. That means to see these films you’ll need to purchase admission to the Space and Rocket Center. Evening films (shows starting at 5pm and 7pm) are free. Plain and simple. No museum admission necessary.
• Getting in: To see any part of the film fest that requires museum admission (any films starting from 11am-4pm), go to the museum ticket desk and pay the museum admission fee. Then after  you’ve had your fill of holiday movies (or before) enjoy the great exhibits at the Space Center!
• Food: If you do plan to stay for the entire festival, there will be concessions available for purchase over there throughout the day.
• Theatres: The movies will be shown in 2 different movie theatres. Day time movies (those starting from 11am-4pm) will be shown in the US Space and Rocket Center in the DC Theater. Evening movies (those starting at 5pm and 7pm) will be shown at the Davidson Center.

Event Information

Date: December 22, 2012
Time: 1st movie starts at 11am; last movie starts at 7pm
Location: All movies at U.S. Space and Rocket Center in the DC Theater and the Davidson Center.
Cost: All day time films (anything starting from 11am-4pm) are included with museum admission; evening films (shows starting at 5pm and 7pm) are free, no need to purchase museum admission.
Visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center website
Like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center on Facebook
Follow the U.S. Space and Rocket Center on Twitter