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A long time ago, in households not far from here, Star Wars-obsessed kids were waiting for the sequel (the first one; the one that would soon be known as The Empire Strikes Back). These youngsters were, in fact, desperate for anything Star Wars related. For lo, children, in those dark days of 1978 there was no YouTube; you couldn’t just watch Star Warswhenever you wanted. Nor could you scroll through 1000s of images of swoon Han Solo with the touch of your finger. So desperate were these tweens that they would read or watch anything that had even the most tenuous connection to the franchise.
Well, Hollywood read the room; thus, the Star Wars Holiday Special was born. The night rolled around and the children raced to the TV, eager to catch sight of their Force-loving heroes (and, since nobody knew at that point that Luke and Leia – SPOILER ALERT! – were closely related, maybe a longed for swoon kiss?) but as the minutes ticked by, even the youngest of these fans started to get just how bad was this - of all things - variety special. (Ask your grandparents about “variety shows,” which were kind of the 1970s answer to vaudeville. Also, look up “vaudeville.”).
Anyway, the Mayfair Theatre isn’t going to make you watch the 1978 special. Instead, it’s screening A Disturbance in the Force, a 2023 documentary which seeks to answer the question “Why?” (as in, why was the special made? Also, perhaps: how much did Harrison Ford make for appearing in it? Or: was he contractually obligated to appear in it? Also: does The Star Wars Holiday Special still appear on his resumé? Disclaimer: those last three questions probably won’t be answered).
▪️ Children of all ages, try to contain yourselves. The Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade starts at 5:30 pm.
🆓 Do some seasonal shopping at the HoliYay Craft Market (National Arts Centre from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm)
▪️ Road Trip: Find 20 local vendors as well as tasty, locally distilled spirits at the Vodkow Holiday Market in Almonte.
▪️ If you have an unintentional empty alcohol bottle collection cluttering up your home bring it to the BottleWorks Glebe Bottle Driveat Kunstadt Sports, 680 Bank St. between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm.
▪️ Bring a gothic Christmas vibe and do some fantastic local shopping at Day Two of the Ottawa Mystic Market. 11:00 am to 5:00 pm today at Next Door.
▪️ It’s also Day Two of the fabulous Robert Plante Holiday Market(9:00am to 4:00pm), where you can shop from vendors and get your local holiday decor sorted from the greenhouse.
▪️ You’ll have a chance to win prizes to the pub and to shop from the vendors with every $10 you spend at Finnigan’s Christmas Market (347 Montreal Road)
▪️ Ottawa Regional Youth Choir performs Mozart’s Requiem.
▪️ If the chill is getting you down, grab a cozy Sunday night meal from Maker Feed Co. This week’s Shepherd’s Pie Take Home Dinner is a warming mix of beef and lamb and is served with salad.
▪️ Road Trip: Brockville Christmas Market continues today.
▪️ Tonight’s European Union Film Festival screenings: Scarborn(Poland) and Dodo (Greece).
▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Antra, Blitz, Restoration: The Straight Story
▪️ Mayfair Theatre: Forbidden Films at The Mayfair, Toliko za danas (aka, That’s It for Today), A Disturbance in the Force: How the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened
Gigs
▪️ Songs That Made Us Songwriters. Irene’s Pub
▪️ Sinking Season, Milk St., Sundowner. Café Dekcuf
▪️ Wedding. Rainbow Bistro
▪️ Carys. LIVE on Elgin