Saturday Festival Events

Saturday, December 9

7:30am – 11:00am It’s a Wonderful Breakfast.
Pancakes, eggs, sausage, O.J, coffee. Tickets $10 at the door.
Trinity Church, 27 Fall St.

9:00am – Noon BEDFORD FALLS STATION POSTAL CANCELLATION.
Seneca Falls Post Office,
38 State St.

9:00am – 3:00pm SENECA FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Experience the Victorian Christmas grandeur and wonder in the magnificent Becker Mansion.
55 Cayuga Street.

9:00am – 4:30pm VISIT THE IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE MUSEUM.
Raffle tickets available for the It’s a Wonderful Quilt.
IAWL Museum, 76 Fall St.

9:00am – 5:00pm FESTIVAL INFORMATION CENTER
Festival information, merchandise, souvenirs.
Plus, the $500 Money Tree Raffle provided by Generations Bank, benefiting the Seneca County House of Concern. Lost & Found, First Aid.
Festival Information Center, 103 Fall Street

9:00am – 5:00pm Women’s Rights NHP Visitor Center
Ranger programs, kids’ activities, exhibits, and the Women’s Rights NHP bookstore.
Women’s Rights NHP, Wesleyan Chapel, 136 Fall Street.

9:00am – 5:00pm
“‘For the Slave is Our Brother’: Christmas and the Anti-Slavery Movement.”
Special Exhibit
Women’s Rights NHP, Wesleyan Chapel, 136 Fall Street.

9:00am – 9:00pm “ALL THINGS WONDERFUL”
Visit the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum Gift Shop; Free Photo Opportunity with the “You Are Now in Bedford Falls” Sign.
IAWL Gift Shop, 80 Fall St.

9:30am – 11:00am AUTOGRAPH SIGNING BY PAMELA MCCOLL, AUTHOR,
“Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem.
Seneca Heritage & Tourism Center, 89 Fall St.

9:30am – 9:00pm ANNIE’S PITSTOP
“Come sit for a spell!!”, enjoy a hot drink or a light snack before the movie.
The Little Theater, First Presbyterian Church Lower Level, 23 Cayuga Street

10:00am 20TH ANNUAL GEORGE BAILEY AWARD
Presented by Karolyn Grimes on behalf of the IDEA Center for the Voices of Humanity.
Trinity Church, 27 Fall St.

10:00am – 12:15pm A WONDERFUL MOVIE SPECIAL
Screening of “It’s a Wonderful life” Colorized version – 2hr:10min
The Little Theater, First Presbyterian Church Lower Level, 23 Cayuga Street

10:00am – 2:00pm Make A Tin Ornament
Inspired by 19th century Christmas traditions.
Women’s Rights NHP, Wesleyan Chapel, 136 Fall Street.

10:00am – 3:00pm FREE HORSE-DRAWN WAGON RIDES
Fall Street

10:00am – 3:00pm It’s A Wonderful Life Open House and Craft Fair
Free Coffee, Homemade baked goods. Many wonderful crafts. Lunch available.
Kirk Casey American Legion, 48 State Street

10:00am – 3:00pm IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE CHARACTERS ON FALL STREET

10:00am – 5:00pm SAM WAINWRIGHTS FIVE & DIME
Visit vendors for arts and crafts merchants.
Generations Agency, 60 Fall Street

10:30am PRESENTATION BY MONICA CAPRA HODGES
Frank Capra’s granddaughter.
Trinity Church, 27 Fall St.

11:00am GIANT CINNAMON BUN EATING CONTEST
Café XIX, 20 East Bayard St.

11:00am – 12:00pm READING OF THE GREATEST GIFT
The short story that inspired the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” written by Philip Van Doren Stern
Seneca Falls Heritage and Tourism Center, 89 Fall Street

11:00am – 1:00pm AUTOGRAPH SIGNING BY CAST MEMBERS
Karolyn Grimes (“Zuzu Bailey”), Jimmy Hawkins (“Tommy Bailey”) and Donald & Ronald Collins (“Little Pete Bailey”). Autographs free with purchase; $30 fee for items you bring yourself.
The Gould Hotel, 108 Fall St.

11:00am – 3:00pm PICTURES WITH SANTA
Pictures with Santa. $10 a picture.
Seneca Falls Historical Society, 55 Cayuga Street

11:00am – 6:30pm “IT’S A WONDERFUL TASTING”
presented by Drink Like a Girl!®.TASTE and SHOP! Offerings from women-owned breweries, wineries, distilleries, and more!
10 FREE TASTINGS included w/ admission price
Early Bird tickets available at www.drinklikeagirl5k.com
95 Fall St. (next to WomanMade Products!)

11:30am “EMILE ‘EMILIO’ KURI: HIS REMARKABLE LIFE.”
A Film by John Kuri, son of Emile Kuri, Two-Time Oscar Recipient and Set Decorator for “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Mr. Kuri will introduce his film and answer questions about his father’s work with Frank Capra, Walt Disney, Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler, George Stevens, Cary Grant and many more.
Trinity Church, 27 Fall St.

12:15pm – 12:40pm IAWL SHORTS:
SECRETS OF THE VAULT – The tricks & secrets of making rain, snow, sound and more… in It’s a Wonderful Life – 22 min.
The Little Theater, First Presbyterian Church Lower Level, 23 Cayuga Street

1:00pm IT’S A WONDERFUL PARADE.
Sponsored by the It’s a Wonderful Life Festival Committee.
Fall Street.

1:00pm – 3:15pm A WONDERFUL MOVIE SPECIAL
Screening of “It’s a Wonderful life” Original B/W version – 2hr:10min
The Little Theater, First Presbyterian Church Lower Level, 23 Cayuga Street

1:30pm “FROM HERE TO ETERNITY”.
Presentation by Mary Owen, daughter of Donna Reed, recalls her mother’s Academy Award winning performance in this 1953 film.
Trinity Church, 27 Fall St.

1:30pm – 2:30pm AUTOGRAPH SIGNING BY MICHAEL WILLIAM
“The Essential It’s a Wonderful Life. A Scene-by-Scene Guide to the Classic Film.”
Seneca Falls Heritage & Visitor Center, 89 Fall St.

2:00pm – 4:00pm AUTOGRAPH SIGNING WITH CAST MEMBERS:
Karolyn Grimes (“Zuzu Bailey”), Jimmy Hawkins (“Tommy Bailey”) and Donald & Ronald Collins (“Young Pete Bailey”). Autographs free with purchase; $30 fee per autograph for items you bring yourself.
The Gould Hotel, 108 Fall St.

2:00pm – 4:00pm SPECIAL LIVE-STREAMED AMA / IN-PERSON Q&A PODCAST EVENT
Meet the makers of the exciting new Wonderful Life podcast from iHeart, George Bailey Was Never Born, as well as townspeople, IAWL next of kin and surprise call-in guests featured in the show for this live-streamed Q&A hosted by Seth Kennedy and a live musical performance by The Carolyn Sills Combo.
First Presbyterian Church, 23 Cayuga Street

2:30pm – 3:30pm “ENDURING HOLIDAY CLASSICS THAT KEEP ON GIVING.”
Presentation by author Pamela McColl about why the iconic film “It’s a Wonderful
Life”, celebrating its 77th Anniversary in 2023, and the ever-popular poem “Twas The Night Before Christmas”, turning 200 this year, have remained at the very heart of the holiday season generation after generation.
Trinity Church, 27 Fall St.

3:00pm – 4:00pm AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AND INFORMATION ON THE DONNA REED FOUNDATION
by Mary Owen (Donna Reed’s daughter).
Seneca Falls Heritage & Visitor Center, 89 Fall St.
3:15pm – 3:40pm IAWL SHORTS:
A WONDERFUL WRAP – Footage from the Capra Wrap picnic – 8 min.
RESTORING A BELOVED CLASSIC – a look Behind the scenes of IAWL – 12 min.
The Little Theater, First Presbyterian Church Lower Level, 23 Cayuga Street

3:30pm – 4:00pm “THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER.”
Radio play featuring Brian Rohan as Jimmy Stewart.
Trinity Church, 27 Fall St.

4:00pm – 7:00pm BERT & ERNIE’S FAMOUS CHICKEN BBQ
55 Fall Street

4:00pm – 6:15pm A WONDERFUL MOVIE SPECIAL
Screening of “It’s a Wonderful life” Colorized version – 2hr:10min
The Little Theater, First Presbyterian Church Lower Level, 23 Cayuga Street

4:40pm IT’S A WONDERFUL RUN 5K.
To register, go to https://itsawonderfulrun5k.com/register/
Bridge St. Bridge.

6:00pm – 7:20pm MERRY CHRISTMAS, GEORGE BAILEY!
A live radio show with live sound effects in front of a live audience!
Tickets available at Fall St. Brewing, 106 Fall St, or WomanMade Products 91 Fall St. senecacommunityplayers.org
The Bijou Theater – First Presbyterian Church, 23 Cayuga Street

6:15pm – 6:40pm IAWL SHORTS
SECRETS OF THE VAULT – The tricks & secrets of making rain, snow, sound and more… in It’s a Wonderful Life – 22 min.
The Little Theater, First Presbyterian Church Lower Level, 23 Cayuga Street

6:30pm – 7:30pm DANCE LESSON BY GROOVE JUICE SWING (FROM ROCHESTER).
Mynderse Academy Gymnasium, 105 Troy St.

7:00pm – 9:15pm SPECIAL SCREENING OF “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.”
Free Admission.
Douglas Avery Performing Arts Center, Mynderse Academy, 105 Troy St.

7:30pm – 10:00pm CANDLELIGHT CABARET SHOW: HOLLY JOLLY HOLIDAYS
Pottersville’s finest stage show featuring the Pottersville Singers. Adult beverages,
hors d’oeuvres & desserts available for purchase. Tickets available at Festival Information Center, WomanMade Products or therealbedfordfalls.com
Pottersville Palladium, Seneca Falls Heritage Area, 89 Fall Street

7:30pm – 10:30pm “DANCE BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON.”
Music by Andy Stobie and the Greater Finger Lakes Jazz Orchestra (19-piece swing band). Free Admission.
Mynderse Academy Gymnasium, 105 Troy St.

8:00pm – 10:30pm “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE” PARTICIPATION MOVIE
The Little Theater, First Presbyterian Church Lower Level, 23 Cayuga Street