TURNERS FALLS — Ten years since its inaugural event, the annual “It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls” holiday celebration is returning to downtown on Friday.
The event, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m., is highlighted by a free screening of Christmastime classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 7:30 p.m. at the Shea Theater Arts Center.
People can visit shops and restaurants as they offer special deals. Pioneer Valley Brewery and The Rendezvous will also present live music from Danny Hescock and Heath Lewis at 7 p.m. and Olivia Nied at 9:30 p.m. To top it off, children alike are invited to put a wish list in Santa’s mailbox at Spinner Park, where Santa himself will greet children at 6 p.m.
RiverCulture Director Suzanne LoManto said there were difficulties organizing “It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls” in the same way it has been held for years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was canceled in 2020, although Santa’s visit continued, albeit by fire truck throughout Montague’s five villages.
Difficult times, she said, make the celebration — and the film being celebrated — even more important.
“There is something to be said about sitting with your community and people you know and watching these movies that withstand the test of time,” she said. “Maybe this year, we need it now more than ever.”
In previous years, the celebration has included traditions that could not be brought into 2021 in full capacity, such as “Welcome Yule,” a holiday stage production headed by founder Rose Sheehan. This year, Welcome Yule will be presented as “a wide-ranging collection of videos culled from shows throughout (its) 35-year history,” according to a post on Shea Theater’s website. Remote viewing info can be found at SheaTheater.org.
To compensate for a thinned-out schedule of events, RiverCulture has spread out “It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls” to include month-long festivities. Last week, the Shea Theater showed the classic holiday film “Miracle on 34th Street,” and on Friday, Dec. 17, a Santa-themed punk rock band will perform there. The Shea Theater will also feature a pop-up shop with vendors and craftspeople in its lobby on Dec. 18 and Dec. 19.
“Our strategy was to double down on Friday nights and weekends to try to get as much energy downtown as possible,” LoManto said.
More information, as well as the celebration’s special shopping coupon, can be found at RiverCulture.org.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.