Christmas decorations are popping up around town and “Silent Night” is on heavy radio rotation.
Tampa Theatre is sharing the holiday spirit with cinema aficionados.
This weekend, Tampa’s only art-house theater is showing a number of holiday classics, including one free screening.
The theatre weekend starts Saturday at 3 p.m. with the original 1947 film Miracle on 34 Street.
Tickets are $9 each, with discounts for military members and theatre members.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, Tampa Theatre will open the Sunset Cinema series at the Catachobee Park lawn for a free open-air screening of Polar Express.
The picture starts at 6 p.m. with limited seating.
Outside food and alcohol-free beverages are permitted.
However, popcorn and sodas are very reasonably priced ($2 and $1, respectively).
Proceeds will go towards the nonprofit theatre organizing the event.
To continue the holiday classic series, on Sunday, Dec. 12, Tampa Theatre will show Irving Berlin’s 1950 Technicolor film White Christmas.
This Holiday Inn remake features an impressive score by the director, as well as music by American legend Bing Crosby.
Doors open at 2 p.m. with a Mighty Wurlitzer show.
The film will commence at 3 p.m.
Tara Schroeder, Tampa Theatre’s director of programming and marketing, highlighted the reasons for watching these holiday classic in the theatre.
“Yes, you watch them at home in your PJs,” she said, “but there’s nothing more festive than seeing them on the big screen at Tampa Theatre with hundreds of people?
“Plus, people love singing along with the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ before the movies. We appreciate the community’s support of historic Tampa Theatre, so it feels good to say ‘thanks’ with free movies in city parks with our Sunset Cinema series.”
JP Busche can be reached at jbusche@ut.spartans.edu.