“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” The movie adaptation of Jean Shepherd’s semiautobiographical short stories first hit screens nearly 35 Novembers ago, and in the intervening years this refrain—chanted to little Ralphie Parker by many of the adults in his life after he requests a BB gun for Christmas—has acquired the cozy, evocative familiarity of a beloved carol. Likewise, A Christmas Story has earned its status as the quintessential family holiday movie, a wryly nostalgic ode to the outsized wonder and high drama that surround the childhood rites and rituals of a small-town Christmas. From the school yard to the shopping mall, this modern classic invokes a rosy vision of 1940s Midwest Americana, delivered with Shepherd’s signature blend of deadpan satire, intergenerational slapstick, and affectionate good cheer. Free popcorn at all screenings!

Screening as part of Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square, New York’s largest holiday festival, featuring legendary artists, up-and-coming musicians, dancers, street performers and more as we welcome the holiday season and light up the Upper West Side with an evening of music, food, dancing and fun for everyone.