There is something about seeing images on a huge screen is a darkened room full of people that takes you to places you simply can’t experience when watching TV. Some of my fondest family memories involve “going to the movies.”

One of my earliest memories are the images of hippo ballerinas and marching mops in “Fantasia,” the first silly and the second scary, and a few years later, the figure of Scarlett O’Hara struggling to her feet backlit by fires and declaring, “As God as my witness, I will never go hungry again.” As a mother, I shall never forget my 3-year-old son jumping up to stand on his wobbly seat cushion to yell, as the fire on screen raged, “Don’t worry Mommy, Bambi will save them all!”

But sadly, we don’t see that many families at the movie theater these days. Movies are just too expensive. Even though the Harbor Theater prides itself on having the lowest priced tickets in the state, it is still just too much for an entire family to afford a night out at the movies anymore.

The Harbor Theater is committed to bringing the movie theater experience to as many people as possible on the peninsula. As a result, the Theater is proud to announce that opening Friday night shows of family-oriented first run movies will be Family Ticket Night. A flat ticket piece of $20 will cover up to five family members! And we will throw in a free large popcorn. Not only will parents and their kids get to see movies like they are intended to be seen—on a huge screen, with an outstanding sound system, comfortable theater chairs, and fresh, hot, buttered popcorn, they will be able to say that they saw it first.

And to start off this winter season, the opening night, Friday, Dec. 29 of the much-anticipated “Wonka” will be Family Ticket Night. So, mark your calendars, make sure Santa knows to leave a $20 bill in someone’s stocking, load up the Griswold family station wagon, and join us for this new adaptation of one of the world’s most beloved children’s stories.