Best Bets: Duluth-made Christmas rom-coms on big screen – Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH — Is it almost Christmas already? Get in those last-chance visits to

Bentleyville,

and read on for more event recommendations.

It’s always exciting to see your city on the big screen — but the reality of latter-day distribution means that many films go straight to the small screen. That was the case with

“Merry Kiss Cam”

(2022) and

“Rescuing Christmas”

(2023), romantic comedies filmed in Duluth and set during the Christmas season.

On Sunday, Dec. 21, the Upper Midwest Film Office is offering an opportunity to see those movies in the Depot Theatre — back to back, for free. As a bonus, the matinee double-feature will include an appearance by Mandy June Turpin, who produced both movies.

Something to watch for in the new year: in an email to the News Tribune, organizers said they expect to announce similar screenings for upcoming Duluth-made Turpin productions including “Brunch & Bloodshed” and “Hockey Mom’s Revenge”

(facebook.com/uppermidwestfilmoffice).

Hillsiders still looking for gift ideas have a convenient opportunity on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Washington Center. The Family Freedom Center is presenting a Hillside Holiday Market featuring “local makers, youth creators and neighborhood entrepreneurs.” The market opens at noon, and runs until 7 p.m. to accommodate after-work shoppers

(familyfreedomcenter.org).

Jay Gabler / 2023 File / Duluth Media Group

One of the reasons the 1965 special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” has endured for 60 years is its acknowledgment that the holidays can be melancholy.

“I know I should be happy,” Charlie Brown tells Lucy, “but I’m not.”

The search for meaning and connection amid the season’s bustle and commercial clamor is perfectly evoked by Vince Guaraldi’s score. The soundtrack has become not just one of the most popular holiday albums, but one of America’s most-recognized jazz recordings. A group of local musicians will pay tribute with a performance of the full album at The West Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 17

(thewesttheatre.com).

Jed Carlson / Duluth Media Group file photo

The annual Rubber Chicken Theater holiday revue has an alternate title in 2025: “Santa’s Big DECC Energy.”

Expect timely gags about topics like

the former Lester Park Golf Course,

the

Hermantown City Council

and

the retirement of Darren Danielson.

It would be hard for this newspaper not to recommend a show that rewards close attention to Duluth headlines.

The show opens Friday, Dec. 19, for a two-weekend run at Studio Four in the St. Louis County Depot

(rubberchickentheater.com).

Jay Gabler / Duluth Media Group file photo

Bells ring year round, but December is really their time to shine (so to speak). “Carol of the Bells,” “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “Bells, Bells, Bells” … wait, you’re not familiar with that last one? As performed by Anthony Daniels on the 1980 “Star Wars” Christmas album?

Well, anyway, the point is that the holidays are the perfect time to see Strikepoint, Duluth’s internationally acclaimed bell choir. On Friday, Dec. 19, at First United Methodist Church, the group will present “A Bell Noël”

(strikepoint.com).

Jay Gabler / Duluth News Tribune file photo

Iceland is one of the world’s most arts-loving countries, so it’s no surprise that it has an annual tradition of exchanging books to enjoy through shared reading time.

Duluth has made the tradition, known as Jolabokaflod, its own with an event taking place at the St. Louis County Depot’s Great Hall on Saturday, Dec. 20. Expect crafts, cocoa and books for all — offered free, to ensure everyone has a good read this winter

(experiencethedepot.org).

Arts and entertainment reporter Jay Gabler joined the Duluth News Tribune in 2022. His previous experience includes eight years as a digital producer at The Current (Minnesota Public Radio), four years as theater critic at Minneapolis alt-weekly City Pages, and six years as arts editor at the Twin Cities Daily Planet. He’s a co-founder of pop culture and creative writing blog The Tangential; he’s also a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the Minnesota Film Critics Association. You can reach him at [email protected] or 218-409-7529.