SENECA FALLS — The It’s a Wonderful Life Festival will return to Seneca Falls Dec. 13 to 15 with more than 100 events.
Annual highlights include Friday night favorites Mrs. Martini’s Pasta Dinner and It’s a Wonderful Bonfire and Tree Lighting with Santa. On Saturday, enjoy the It’s a Wonderful Parade featuring The Bedford Falls Mediocre Marching Band and Witchy Women of the Finger Lakes, as well as the It’s a Wonderful Run 5K, which draws more than 5,000 runners to race through the streets of Seneca Falls. The festivities continue Sunday with Uncle Billy’s Wonderful Scavenger Hunt and the Wonderful Music Brass Ensemble.
“We’re thrilled to introduce a new event this year called ‘Lights, Camera, Action!’” said Haidee Oropallo, president of the It’s a Wonderful Life Festival Committee. Festival goers will capture their activities related to memorable scenes from the movie and upload them to the festival website for the chance to win $100.
Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu Bailey; Jimmy Hawkins, who played Tommy Bailey; and Donald and Ronald Collins who played Young Pete Bailey, will be part of the festival. Additional guests and presenters will be Mary Owen, Donna Reed’s daughter; Monica Capra Hodges, Frank Capra’s granddaughter; and John Kuri, son of Emile Kuri, set decorator for It’s a Wonderful Life.
The weekend festivities kick-off Thursday evening with In the Mood – a 1940s Cabaret at the “Pottersville Palladium.” Throughout the Festival, visitors can enjoy screenings of the original black and white and the colorized editions of It’s a Wonderful Life, enjoy a hot drink or light snack at Annie’s Pitstop, and do a little holiday shopping at Sam Wainwrights Five & Dime crafts fair.
For details and tickets, go to www.therealbedfordfalls.com.
