Ringing in the holidays just became more fun for families this year! Harbor Theater is offering a week of varied holiday movies from musicals to animation to romantic comedy – all at the special Family Ticket price of $20 for 5 family members, $8 for individuals.

Opening the festival is Sony’s new first-run musical, “Journey to Bethlehem” (PG, 1 hour, 38 minutes) on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it.

The following day, Saturday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. (note the early showtime) “Happy Feet” (2006, PG, 1 hour, 48 minutes) is our holiday FREE family movie sponsored by the towns of Boothbay, Southport, and Boothbay Harbor. Don’t miss bringing the children to see this delightfully toe-tapping film before welcoming Santa and Friends when they arrive in the Harbor at 3 p.m.!

And you can really make a day of it if you come back Saturday evening at 7 for “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944, NR, 1 hour, 53 minutes). Though focusing on the 1902 St Louis World’s Fair, it also encompasses the family’s activities from Halloween to Christmas and features Judy Garland singing “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas” to younger sister Tootie (Margaret O’Brien). Vincent Minelli directed Judy Garland to stardom in this exhilarating technicolor musical.

“Meet Me in St. Louis is gay, and quaint, and tuneful as a music box and excellent entertainment for any one of any age.” - Mae Tinee, Chicago Tribune

On Sunday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. the film will be “Heidi” (2015, G, 1 hour, 51 minutes). In this German-made version filmed in Switzerland, Anuk Steffen stars as an eight-year-old Swiss orphan whose aunt hands her off to her “mountain-dwelling grandfather,” then returns and takes her to live in the wealthy Sesemann household in Frankfurt, Germany as a companion to Klara, a sheltered girl in a wheelchair. Heidi is unhappy but makes the best of the situation, always longing for her grandfather.

“This most recent and faithful adaptation does the most spectacular job of exploiting the scenery and Heidi's natural capacity for unbridled joy.” - James Plath, Family Home Theater

Our first Wednesday matinee of the season on Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. brings us a romcom favorite: “The Holiday” (2006, PG-13, 2 hours, 16 minutes). Two women, one from the US and one from the UK, swap homes over Christmas/Hanukkah holidays after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance with a local. Stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, and Eli Wallach.

The Family Holiday Festival ends on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. with a real classic: “Holiday Inn” (1942, NR, 1 hour, 41 minutes) in which Bing Crosby first sings Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” Stars Bing and Fred Astaire with an Irving Berlin score, and song and dance numbers for all the holidays of the year. Overshadowed by its more famous “White Christmas” remake, “Holiday Inn” deserves more credit than it gets. Simply a must-watch at Christmas time!

“Loaded with a wealth of songs, it's meaty, not too kaleidoscopic and yet closely knit for a compact 100 minutes of tiptop filmusical entertainment.” - Variety

We hope to make your holiday season a little brighter and lighter with family fun at the movies! The Harbor Theater is located at 185 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor.