CHRISTMAS MOVIE & PIZZA NIGHT AT THE TOWN HALL

When it comes to booking activities for the children during the holidays, the first place I always check is Facebook’s ‘What’s on’ this month. It’s such a handy tool to plan ahead and make the most of the festive season, especially before the manic month that is December, parents, you know the feeling, right?. 

From craft fairs to community movie nights, there’s always something to keep the kids entertained, and this year, I stumbled across an event that turned out to be a real gem.

I came across a pizza and movie night being hosted at our local town hall. A Christmas movie and free pizza? It sounded perfect! I emailed to book our places, not expecting much if I’m honest, but I thought it would be a good way to get into the holiday spirit.

We were pleasantly surprised! From the moment we arrived, we felt so welcomed by the town mayor and a group of warm, friendly helpers. The festive atmosphere was set with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and, much to everyone’s relief, a cosy, heated hall—extra brownie points for that on a chilly evening!.

While waiting for the food, we enjoyed tea, coffee, and juice, which was a thoughtful touch. What we didn’t expect was pizza and chips provided by the local takeaway. It was such a lovely gesture that truly elevated the evening. We helped ourselves to a delicious spread of pizza, chips, sausage rolls, and crisps before settling in to enjoy the movie.

The movie of the evening was Rise of the Guardians, a great choice considering it brings together all the seasonal guardians—Santa, Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and the Sandman. The story, full of magic and heart, revolves around their efforts to stop the Boogeyman from ruining everything. Amazingly, we hadn’t seen it before, even though it came out in 2012, so it was a real treat.

As the movie played, the helpers came around with popcorn, marshmallows, and sweets, making the experience feel even more festive. The children mingled and made new friends, which was so lovely to see.

It truly was a wholesome and heartwarming evening. If you have local events like this in your area, I can’t recommend attending them enough. Your children will absolutely love it, and it’s such a wonderful way to connect with the community.