{"id":2202688,"date":"2025-12-17T13:41:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2202688"},"modified":"2025-12-17T13:41:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:41:15","slug":"best-bets-duluth-made-christmas-rom-coms-on-big-screen-duluth-news-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/best-bets-duluth-made-christmas-rom-coms-on-big-screen-duluth-news-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Bets: Duluth-made Christmas rom-coms on big screen – Duluth News Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

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DULUTH \u2014 Is it almost Christmas already? Get in those last-chance visits to <\/p>\n

Bentleyville,<\/a><\/p>\n

and read on for more event recommendations.<\/p>\n

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Duluth Christmas rom-com double feature<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

It’s always exciting to see your city on the big screen \u2014 but the reality of latter-day distribution means that many films go straight to the small screen. That was the case with <\/p>\n

“Merry Kiss Cam”<\/a><\/p>\n

(2022) and <\/p>\n

“Rescuing Christmas”<\/a><\/p>\n

(2023), romantic comedies filmed in Duluth and set during the Christmas season.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Dec. 21, the Upper Midwest Film Office is offering an opportunity to see those movies in the Depot Theatre \u2014 back to back, for free. As a bonus, the matinee double-feature will include an appearance by Mandy June Turpin, who produced both movies.<\/p>\n

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” <\/p>\n

(facebook.com\/uppermidwestfilmoffice).<\/a><\/p>\n

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Washington Center is hosting a Hillside Holiday Market on Wednesday, Dec. 17.<\/figcaption>

Jay Gabler \/ Duluth Media Group<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

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 <\/p>\n

(familyfreedomcenter.org).<\/a><\/p>\n

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‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\"Sheet<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Sheet music is arranged for a “Charlie Brown Christmas” score rehearsal. Local musicians will perform the music at The West Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 17.<\/figcaption>

Jay Gabler \/ 2023 File \/ Duluth Media Group<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“I know I should be happy,” Charlie Brown tells Lucy, “but I’m not.”<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

(thewesttheatre.com).<\/a><\/p>\n

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‘Talk Duluthy To Me This Christmas’<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\"Anchor<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Expect gags about timely topics like the retirement of longtime WDIO news anchor Darren Danielson in Rubber Chicken Theater’s holiday revue, opening Friday, Dec. 19, at Studio Four.<\/figcaption>

Jed Carlson \/ Duluth Media Group file photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

The annual Rubber Chicken Theater holiday revue has an alternate title in 2025: “Santa’s Big DECC Energy.”<\/p>\n

Expect timely gags about topics like <\/p>\n

the former Lester Park Golf Course,<\/a><\/p>\n

the <\/p>\n

Hermantown City Council<\/a><\/p>\n

and <\/p>\n

the retirement of Darren Danielson.<\/a><\/p>\n

It would be hard for this newspaper not to recommend a show that rewards close attention to Duluth headlines.<\/p>\n

The show opens Friday, Dec. 19, for a two-weekend run at Studio Four in the St. Louis County Depot <\/p>\n

(rubberchickentheater.com).<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n\"People<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
Sue Marquardt, far left, and Libby Gaalaas, second from left, perform with Strikepoint during a 2023 rehearsal. The famed bell choir will perform at First United Methodist Church on Friday, Dec. 19.<\/figcaption>

Jay Gabler \/ Duluth Media Group file photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

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?<\/p>\n

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 No\u00ebl” <\/p>\n

(strikepoint.com).<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n\"Exterior<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n
On Saturday, Dec. 20, the St. Louis County Depot is hosting a celebration of books and reading.<\/figcaption>

Jay Gabler \/ Duluth News Tribune file photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 offered free, to ensure everyone has a good read this winter <\/p>\n

(experiencethedepot.org).<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n <\/p>\n\"Jay<\/p>\n<\/picture>\n

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\n 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 jgabler@duluthnews.com or 218-409-7529.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n