“A Christmas Story” Comes Home Opens November 9

A-Christmas-Story-2013Additions include “Flick” statue, new window scene

“A Christmas Story” Comes Home

This holiday season, the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond will feature six animated display scenes from “A Christmas Story.” The displaysinclude Higbee’s Department Store Window, Flick’s Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It’s a Major Award, Santa’s Mountain at Higbee’s and The Bumpus Hounds. In honor of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority’s 30th anniversary, as well as the 30th anniversary of the movie, a new window scene will be unveiled at the start of the exhibit.

The “A Christmas Story” Comes Home exhibit will be on display from Nov. 9, 2013 until Jan. 5, 2014 in the W.F. Wellman Exhibit Hall. The design takes visitors to the streets of downtown Hohman, a fictional Indiana town which was a disguise for Shepherd’s hometown Hammond.

In addition to the exhibit, visitors will have the opportunity to see Flick have his tongue stuck to a flag pole just as he did in the movie in front of the Indiana Welcome Center. The permanent bronze statue was unveiled Tuesday, Oct. 29.

The Indiana Welcome Center is located at the intersection of I-80/94 and Kennedy Avenue South in Hammond; only 30 minutes from downtown Chicago and two hours north of Indianapolis.

Special Events

“A Major Event” will be held Saturday, Nov. 30 at the Indiana Welcome Center and kicks off the holiday events. The Welcome Center will be bustling with children’s activities from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. including a passenger train – kids can ride for just $1! “Flick” Bingo, movie showings, crafts and sweet treats will all be available.

The popular “Mommy’s Little Piggy” mashed potato eating contest will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. and registration will start at 10:30 a.m.

A-Christmas-Story-ExhibitThe “Oh Fuuudge!” tire changing relay will be held on Saturday, Dec.14. Parent/child teams will run through an obstacle course and prizes will be awarded to the pair with the best time. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

All events are held at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond and registrations are available online at www.AChristmasStoryComesHome.com.

Letters to Santa, live entertainment and more!

Bring the whole family to enjoy live entertainment on the weekends and write letters to Santa and drop them in the big mailbox in the exhibit hall! View the documentary “The Untold Christmas Story” in the 100-seat theater, vote on the ugliest leg lamp and favorite Christmas tree or participate in the Write a Theme Contest – the exhibit is packed with fun for the whole family. More information is available online at www.AChristmasStoryComesHome.com.

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 between Thanksgiving and Christmas, every Saturday and Sunday between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Indiana Welcome Center. Children have the opportunity to slide down a big red slide into a pillow of snow. Photos are $5 a piece.

Wag Your Tail Wednesdays

Don’t miss the opportunity to have your pet photographed with Santa on Santa’s Mountain. Pet photos with Santa will be available Wednesday, Nov. 27, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Photos are $5 each, and $1 of every photo is given to local animal shelters. Well-behaved animals only.

A History of “A Christmas Story”

The holiday classic “A Christmas Story” was released in 1983 and has since grown into a holiday tradition for most families. 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 of growing up in Hammond, Indiana. A number of the short stories appeared in Playboy magazine and originated from his unscripted radio broadcasts in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

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.

More Information

Visit www.AChristmasStoryComesHome.com for a complete list of special events, contests, hours of operation and directions. The Welcome Center gift shop offers an array of movie memorabilia including the infamous leg lamp!

A CHRISTMAS STORY and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Turner Entertainment Co.