December 9 – 11
Who doesn’t love a holiday movie, especially one that’s chock full of life lessons and memorable characters? For 70 years, Frank Capra’s, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), has been a seasonal staple for countless generations of family members.
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Seneca Falls – Wonderful Parade
The Grand Marshall and other dignitaries ride the horse-drawn wagon in the It’s a Wonderful Parade. Free horse-drawn wagon rides are offered throughout the Festival.
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Seneca Falls – Post Office
Seneca Falls Postmaster Dawn Waldron stamps the special “Bedford Falls Station” holiday postmark on hundreds of envelopes during the It’s a Wonderful Life Festival.
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Seneca Falls – The Bridge
The “Bridge” – Seneca Falls . . . The Real Bedford Falls.
The movie, based on the short story, “The Greatest Gift,” by Phillip Van Doren Stern, tells the story of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) who, one Christmas Eve, finds himself contemplating jumping off the Bedford Falls town bridge rather than having to face financial ruin. A guardian angel is sent down to intervene. The angel shows George how many lives he has impacted in positive ways through his actions, and how badly things would have turned out in his hometown if he had never been born. With this timely epiphany, George sees that his life really has been wonderful and he rushes home to celebrate with his wife Mary (Donna Reed) and children.
Fact or Fiction?
The film’s director always claimed that Bedford Falls was a compilation of many small towns. However, for years, residents and visitors alike have speculated about the undeniable similarities between the fictitious Bedford Falls and the Finger Lakes town of Seneca Falls. For example, in 1917, a distraught young woman threw herself off of the town bridge. She was rescued by young Antonio Varacalli, who jumped into the water and towed her to the safety of the canal bank, only to drown himself. Not only that, but both Seneca Falls and Bedford Mills were mill towns, both have streets lined with Victorian homes, and both have large Italian populations. Director Capra is also reputed to have visited Seneca Falls while writing the script for the movie. While there he even got a haircut from the local barber!
Get Ready for a Wonderful Winter Weekend!
Paying homage to the movie, each year the picturesque waterside town hosts an It’s a Wonderful Life celebration the second week in December. The event has been running in its current form for over a decade and there’s a good reason for that. Chris Podzuweit, Director of the Seneca Falls Visitor Center, and secretary for the It’s a Wonderful Life Committee 2015, says that people come from near and far to spend the weekend fully immersed in activities commemorating the classic holiday film. Locals get in on the celebratory mood as well. Shop windows are decorated in the spirit of the movie, there’s a free gingerbread house decorating area for kids, and horse and carriage rides meander through the town all three days of the festival.
During the celebration, there is a multitude of special events each day. Friday’s highlights include a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, carol singing, and a huge bonfire at People’s Park on Water Street. If you’d rather be indoors, the Gould Hotel (formerly known as the Clarence Hotel) hosts a casual “Welcome Stars” reception that evening as well.
If your family can only make it to one day of the festival, Saturday may be your best bet. According to Chris, there will be something for everyone to enjoy from Saturday morning until after dark. “A float-filled parade at 1 pm is always fun for families,” he asserts, and the arrival of Santa on at the tail end of it is guaranteed to thrill the younger set. Following his grand entrance, Santa will be stationed at the North Pole for the remainder of the weekend for kids to share their gift lists and have their photos taken with him.
Everyone loves festival food and the Taste of Bedford Falls, hosted by local restaurants and eateries, gives adults and children the chance to sample all sorts of delicious treats. There’s a fee for this event, held under a tent in — where else? – “Bailey’s Park.” As the day draws to a close, there’s even an opportunity to work off your meal! The It’s a Wonderful Run 5K is one of Saturday’s highlights for people of all ages. The Run/Walk begins at dusk (4:40pm) at the historic bridge which many believe was the inspiration for the bridge scenes in the movie. The course continues past the decorated Christmas tree display, the shops of downtown Seneca Falls, and the festively-illuminated historic village homes. In Chris’s opinion, with up to 4,000 entrants, some in costume, the race is really quite spectacular. “People are cheering on the sidelines; it’s definitely something you’ll remember,” he notes. If your family is still wide awake after all this excitement, you can stop by the Community Center for the “Swing by the Moon” Saturday night dance competition.
Don’t Miss
Chris says that one of the biggest thrills for festival attendees is meeting the Bailey sisters from the movie, Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu) and Carol Coombs (Janie), as well as Donna Reed’s real-life daughter, Mary Owen. The celebrities are often present at the movie’s screenings, held throughout the weekend at the old Mynderse Academy on North Park Street, where they enthusiastically sign autographs and talk about what it was like to be part of the movie’s cast. “This film has had such an impact on so many,” Chris says. “To hear Karolyn talk about what the movie has meant to her, and to people all over the world, is incredibly touching.” You also won’t want to miss the production, “Merry Christmas George Bailey!” by the Seneca Community Players. This unique show is a 1947 radio adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life” just as Lux Radio performed it back then, including sound effects, live music, and commercials. For those who want to know more about the radio theatre, the actors can be found strolling the streets of Seneca Falls in between performances.
Fittingly, given the significance of bells in the movie, the festival concludes early Sunday evening with the ringing of the church bells. Anyone can request to have a bell rung in memory of someone important to them by filling out a form in advance on the festival’s website. “It’s a fantastic way to end the weekend,” Chris adds. “You can hear the bells all over town.”
If you aren’t able to attend the It’s a Wonderful Life festival this December but would like to learn more about the movie and Seneca Falls, you can visit The Seneca Falls It’s a Wonderful Life Museum, aptly housed in what was once a portion of the first movie theater in town.
Sue Henninger is a contributing writer to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. Contact her at www.fingerlakeswriter.com
VISITING
It’s A Wonderful Life Festival December 9, 10, and 11 2016
- Seneca Falls, New York
- For a complete schedule of events visit: www.therealbedfordfalls.com
It’s A Wonderful Life Museum
- 32 Fall Street. Seneca Falls (315) 568-5838
- www.wonderfullifemuseum.com
- Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am to 4pm | Free admission
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