“A Christmas Story” 25th Anniversary
Celebration & Convention Schedule

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, NOV. 28 & 29, 2008

2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the beloved holiday film “A Christmas Story.” A Christmas Story House and Museum is hosting its fourth annual event to mark the occasion: “A Christmas Story” 25th Anniversary Celebration and Convention. The convention will feature appearances by seven original cast members (Randy, Flick, Scut Farkus, Grover Dill, Miss Shields, and the two evil elves), the premiere of three documentaries about the movie, rides in the original fire truck from the movie, a bb gun range in the back yard of the house, along with several other events. The celebration will take place Thanksgiving weekend at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel and coincide with Cleveland’s Winterfest.

The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel is the site for almost all of the celebration and convention events.  For “A Christmas Story” fans coming from outside downtown Cleveland the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel is offering all-inclusive accommodations packages.  Hotel guests get two complementary Ralphie Passes and early access to an exclusive meet and greet with the actors Saturday morning.

Click here for more information

Convention Schedule

(schedule is prelimenary and will be subject to change)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2008

10 AM - 5 PM: A Christmas Story House & Museum open. Tour the house, visit the museum and stop by the gift shop. Also, take your best shot (without Shooting The Eye Out) at the BB gun range in the house’s back yard.

10 AM - 5 PM: Fire Truck Rides at A Christmas Story House. Ride the original fire truck used in the movie from Flick’s famous tongue-on-the-flagpole scene. Rides begin at A Christmas Story House and travel around the neighborhood. Rides are $5 for Adults, $3 for Children. All profits benefit the Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department (St. Catharines, Ontario), which owns and maintains the fire truck.

12 PM - 5 PM: Meet actors from "A Christmas Story" and get their autographs at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel in the Ambassador Ballroom. Admission for the general public is $10 for Adults, $5 for Children. Renaissance Cleveland Hotel package guests are admitted free of charge. Autograph fees apply.

2 PM: St. Catharines exhibit unveiling at “A Christmas Story” House in the Canada Room. Witness the unveiling of an exhibit that includes an original Red Ryder BB gun used in the film, two pairs of Ralphie’s glasses and an original script. The exhibit is on loan from St. Catharines Museum (St. Catharines, Ontario) for the convention weekend only.

7 PM – 9 PM: Premiere of “Shooting The Eye Out: The Untold "Christmas Story" in the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel’s Gold Ballroom. Join the actors from “A Christmas Story” for the premiere of a documentary they helped produce. “Shooting The Eye Out”, Directed by Bill Szarka, is a documentary about the making of “A Christmas Story” and the phenomenon it has become. The documentary includes commentary and insights from the actors about their memories from the making of the movie.

Admission to the premiere is $7 for Adults, $5 for Children. DVD copies of both films will be for sale on site, in the convention, and at “A Christmas Story” House Gift Shop.

9 PM: Cocktail Reception with actors of “A Christmas Story” at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel immediately following the premiere of “Shooting The Eye Out”. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the door. Reception will feature light hors d'oeuvre and one free drink with each ticket. Two tickets are included with the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel package.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2008

10 AM – 8 PM: "A Christmas Story" House & Museum open with extended hours. Tour the house, visit the museum and stop by the gift shop. Also, take your best shot (without Shooting The Eye Out) at the BB gun range in the house ’s back yard.

10 AM: Original movie costume exhibits unveiled at “A Christmas Story” House. Exhibits will include Parker family Christmas Morning and the Black Bart Bandits. These exhibits will be on display through Sept 30, 2009 when they will rotate out to make room for other costume displays

10 AM – 5 PM: Lolly the Trolley’s “Ralphie Express” will provide round-trip transportation between the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel and A Christmas Story House. The trolley departs every half-hour. Round-trip trolley tickets are $5 for Adults, $3 for Children. Due to limited street parking at A Christmas Story House, attendees are encouraged to park downtown near the Renaissance Hotel and take the trolley to the house.

10 AM - 5 PM: Fire Truck Rides at “ A Christmas Story” House. Ride the original fire truck used in the movie from Flick’s famous tongue-on-the-flagpole scene. Rides begin at A Christmas Story House and travel around the neighborhood. Rides are $5 for Adults, $3 for Children. All profits benefit the Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department (St. Catharines, Ontario), which owns and maintains the fire truck.

10 AM - 12 PM: Exclusive Actor meet-and-greet for “Ralphie Pass” holders only: meet actors from the movie and get their autographs in the Ambassador Ballroom of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. The meet-and-greet opens to the general public at 2 PM. Autograph fees apply.

10 AM – 12 PM: First Speakers Series. Find out what REALLY happened behind the scenes of A Christmas Story. To join the sessions, you must have a "Ralphie Pass" that gets you into all the weekends’ events. “Ralphie Passes” can be purchased online.
- Rick Parker - trainer of the Bumpus Hounds will speak about his work on "A Christmas Story" and also his long career as an animal handler in the film industry.
- Christmas Story Class Reunion - a panel discussion with several of Ralphie's grown-up classmates. Find out what happened when Hollywood came calling at an ordinary elementary school and the students were cast as extras and paid $1 a day for their work. Find out how "A Christmas Story" changed their lives and what they're doing now.
- A Christmas Story Production Panel - a panel session featuring Bruce Campbell, Vice President of Higbee’s, who gave permission for the filming of “A Christmas Story” inside the department store, Lynda Kemp of Thunder Thighs Costumes who made and supplied the costumes for the movie.
The speaker series is organized and moderated by Tyler Schwartz & Jordie Smits

12 PM – 2 PM: Second Screening of “Shooting The Eye Out: The Untold "Christmas Story"" in the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel’s Gold Ballroom. “Shooting The Eye Out”, Directed by Bill Szarka, and Produced by Scott Schwartz (aka Flick) is a documentary about the making of “A Christmas Story” and the phenomenon it has become. The documentary includes commentary and insights from the actors about their memories from the making of the movie. Admission to the screening is $7 for Adults, $5 for Children.

2 PM - 10 PM: Actors meet-and-greet fans and sign autographs open to general public in Ambassador Ballroom of Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Admission is $10 for Adults, $5 for Children. Renaissance Cleveland Hotel package guests are admitted free of charge. Autograph fees apply.

2 PM – 4 PM: Second Speakers Series. Find out what REALLY happened behind the scenes of A Christmas Story. Hear from guest speakers who share their special stories about the making of “A Christmas Story” and little-known facts from behind the scenes (Grand Ballroom). To join the sessions, you must have a "Ralphie Pass" that gets you into all the weekends’ events. “Ralphie Passes” can be purchased online.
- Rick Parker - trainer of the Bumpus Hounds will speak about his work on "A Christmas Story" and also his long career as an animal handler in the film industry.
- Christmas Story Class Reunion - a panel discussion with several of Ralphie's grown-up classmates. Find out what happened when Hollywood came calling at an ordinary elementary school and the students were cast as extras and paid $1 a day for their work. Find out how "A Christmas Story" changed their lives and what they're doing now.
- A Christmas Story Production Panel - a panel session featuring Bruce Campbell, Vice President of Higbee’s, who gave permission for the filming of “A Christmas Story” inside the department store, Lynda Kemp of Thunder Thighs Costumes who made and supplied the costumes for the movie.
The speaker series is organized and moderated by Tyler Schwartz & Jordie Smits.

4 PM: Character look-a-like contest in the Gold Ballroom. Dress up as your favorite “A Christmas Story” character and come to the Ambassador Ballroom of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel for a character look-a-like contest. Moderated by Canadian mega-fans Tyler Schwartz and Jordie Smits and judged by the actors from the film, you can win a leg lamp and other prizes.

4:30 PM: Final Screening of “Shooting The Eye Out: The Untold "Christmas Story" " in the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel’s Gold Ballroom. “Shooting The Eye Out”, Directed by Bill Szarka, and Produced by Scott Schwartz (aka Flick) is a documentary about the making of “A Christmas Story” and the phenomenon it has become. The documentary includes commentary and insights from the actors about their memories from the making of the movie. Admission to the screening is $7 for Adults, $5 for Children.

5 PM: Last trip of the “Ralphie Express”. The last Lolly the Trolley trip departs A Christmas Story House for the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. BB-gun range in the back yard of A Christmas Story House closes

6:30 PM: Winterfest! Get into the holiday spirit with the tree lighting ceremony, parade, and fireworks show. Winterfest events take place in Public Square right in front of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel (sight of the convention). Enjoy a downtown parade while standing right in front of the Higbee's Building (also on Public Square) just like the Parker family did in “A Christmas Story”.

7 PM: "A Christmas Story" House & Museum close for the day.

8 PM: Premiere of ClarkWORLD documentary about the life and works of A Christmas Story director Bob Clark.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2008

12 NOON - 5 PM: "A Christmas Story" House & Museum open. Tour the house, visit the museum and stop by the gift shop. Also, take your best shot (without Shooting The Eye Out) at the BB gun range in the house’s back yard.