Hammond celebrates "A Christmas Story" 25th Anniversary
The 1983 holiday classic, A Christmas Story, is celebrating its 25th year anniversary this year. The film was written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark and was based on Shepherd’s 1966 book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. The book is a compilation of short stories based on Shepherd’s experiences in Hammond, Indiana. A number of the short stories appeared in Playboy magazine and originated from his unscripted radio broadcasts in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.
Shepherd narrated the entire movie and also had a cameo in the Higbee’s Department Store scene. The movie was set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana which was a disguise for Shepherd’s hometown: Hammond. Hohman is one of Hammond’s busiest downtown streets.
A Christmas Story Comes Home - The Exhibit
The Indiana Welcome Center will feature six animated displays featuring scenes from A Christmas Story. The displays include; Higbee's Department Store Window, Flick's Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It's a Major Award, Santa's Mountain at Higbee's, The Bumpus Hounds and the Parker Living Room. The displays were first showcased in 2003 in the windows of the Macy's in New York City. A Christmas Story Comes Home will open on November 28th and end January 11th.
Relive the "You'll shoot your eye out" scene atop Santa's Mountain
Have your picture taken with Santa on top of Santa's Mountain, a replica of the one featured in the movie. In the famous scene, Ralphie Parker asks Santa for an Official Red Ryder BB Gun, and Santa responds, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid.".
Photos with Santa on Santa's Mountain are available every Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 11 am to 3pm at the Indiana Welcome Center. Children have the opportunity to slide down the big red slide into a pillow of snow. Photos are $5 a piece/person.
Indiana Welcome Center
7770 Corinne Drive
(I-80/94 & Kennedy Avenue south)
Hammond, IN 46323
219-989-7979/800-ALL-LAKE
Only 30 minutes from downtown Chicago!
FREE Admission and Extended Hours
Open Sunday-Wednesday 8am-6pm, Thursday-Saturday 8am-8pm
Contests & Special Events:
"Mommy's Little Piggy" Eating Contest
December 6, 2008
Contestants will compete against each other to see who can finish a plate of mashed potatoes first. Contestants will recreate the scene in the movie where Ralphie's brother, Randy, eats his potatoes and meatloaf like a little piggy.
Event takes place at the Indiana Welcome Center.
Ugliest Lamp Contest
Bring in your ugliest lamp from November 15th to December 2nd. Was it "Born Ugly" or "Made Ugly"? Visitors will vote on the ugliest lamp in each category from December 2nd to December 18th. Winners will receive their very own leg lamp!
Event takes place at the Indiana Welcome Center.
"Oh Fuuudge!" Relay Race
December 13, 2008
Father/son teams will depict the tire changing scene where Ralphie spills lug nuts onto the street and says the "F dash-dash-dash" word. Parent/child contenders (mothers and daughters are welcome to compete) must run through an obstacle course while holding a hubcap filled with lug nuts steady. Winners will recieve a $400 gift certificate from Levin Tires or a set of father/son watches from Albert's Jewelers!
Event takes place at the Indiana Welcome Center.
Write a Theme Contest: "What I Want for Christmas"
An ongoing event where children can write what they would like to receive for Christmas, just like Ralphie Parker writing about the Official Red Ryder BB Gun. Entries must be received by December 15th. There are three age groups.
Entries can be mailed to: Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond, IN 46323.
View the Movie
December 14 and 21, 2008
Enjoy the holiday classic A Christmas Story on the big screen in our 100 seat In-Vision Theater. Shows are free and open to the public on these dates at 3pm. One hundred tickets are available on a first-come-first served basis, two hours before show time.
Event takes place at the Indiana Welcome Center.
Meet Flick!
December 20, 2008
Meet Flick, Ralphie's best friend in the movie. Scott Schwartz, who played Flick in the 1983 holiday classic will be available for autographs and will be showing his documentary Shooting Your Eye Out: The Untold Christmas Story.
Event takes place at the Indiana Welcome Center.
Gift Shop
Visit the Indiana Welcome Center for movie memorabilia! Purchase your very own leg lamp!
Open Sunday-Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursday-Saturday 10am-7pm
Hammond’s Holiday Kick-off Party
Saturday, November 22nd, 2pm – 7pm
Join the City of Hammond, the Downtown Hammond Council, the Hammond Historic Preservation Commission, the Hammond Historical Society, the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, South Shore Arts, New Millennium Productions and the Lake County Convention & Visitors Bureau in celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the movie A Christmas Story in downtown Hammond on Saturday, November 22nd between 2pm to 7pm. The movie will be shown at the Towle Theatre (5205 Hohman) at 2pm and again at 4pm. Tickets to the movie are free, however a limited number of tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis.
In addition to the movie, there will also be a number of other exciting events:
 | Visit with Santa Claus and his Elves. |
| Enjoy an evening of caroling and a tree lighting ceremony. |
| Enter the fudge baking contest with special guest judge, Phil Potempa of The Times. |
| Enter the Ralphie and Randy look-a-like contest. |
| Be one of the first to see a video tribute produced by New Millennium Productions -scheduled to debut after the movie. |
| Participate in holiday-themed children’s art activities presented by South Shore Arts. |
| Compete in the ‘Shoot Your Eye Out’ Contest. |
| Have your picture taken with a vintage fire truck and Dalmatian. |
| Purchase your Christmas Tree |
| Food and drink vendors will be on hand. |
| Scavenger hunt, children’s games, -And many more surprises! |
Raffle tickets to win a full-size leg lamp are now available. Please call the South Shore Arts Substation No. 9 at 219-933-0200 to purchase raffle tickets. Tickets are $5 each or 6 for $20 – the winner will be announced on November 22nd (winner need not be present).
