How You Can Celebrate National Classic Movie Day

We love classic cinema throughout the year, but Saturday, May 16th, is a special opportunity to share that love with others. It's the 12th annual National Classic Movie Day! Here are 12 ways that you can celebrate this wonderful day:

Host a Watch Party: Gather friends or family to watch a favorite classic film. You can make it special by creating a "theatrical" atmosphere with dim lighting, cozy seating, and classic snacks like buttered popcorn and candy. You could even encourage guests to dress in "red-carpet best" or as their favorite classic movie character (I'd opt for Robin Hood!).

Introduce a Friend or Relative to a Favorite Classic Film: Share your passion by introducing someone to an iconic film from Hollywood's Golden Age. I enjoy showing kids The Court Jester and The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), both of which are always hits.

Share on Social Media: Use the hashtag #NationalClassicMovieDay to post your favorite movie lines, memorable posters, or lists of must-watch films.

Join a Blogathon: Many classic film enthusiasts and bloggers participate in themed "blogathons," where they write about their top picks. I hosted a 5 Movies on an Island blogathon for the second National Classic Movie Day and it's still one of my most popular classic movie events.

Research Film History: Spend time learning about great filmmakers like Billy Wilder or Anthony Mann or explore the evolution of various genres like "screwball comedy" and "film noir."

Visit a Museum or Theatre: Spend the day at an institution like the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures or catch a classic screening at a historic theater or a local drive-in. And don't forget that many wonderful movie star museums are not located in Hollywood, such as the Jimmy Stewart Museum (Pennsylvania), Ava Gardner Museum (North Carolina), or Judy Garland Museum (Minnesota).

Explore Filming Locations: If possible, visit sites where famous scenes were shot or take a studio backlot tour at major studios like Warner Bros. or Universal to see where the magic happened. Check out the blog Hometowns to Hollywood for movie-related locations in your state.

Build a Backyard Drive-In: This is a variation of the watch party, but even more fun! If the weather allows, set up an outdoor screening using a portable projector and a white sheet. For families, you can have children decorate cardboard boxes as "cars" to create a personalized, at-home drive-in experience.

Host a Trivia Night: Test your knowledge (and your friends') with trivia questions about classic films, actors, and behind-the-scenes facts. Hey, I still have my Silver Screen Edition cards for Trivial Pursuit!

Create Movie-Themed Meals or Treats: Pair your screening with food inspired by the film, such as Italian dishes for an Italian classic or vintage-style snacks found at historic theaters.

Start a Movie Bucket List: Use the day to commit to your film education by starting a "100 Classics" bucket list. You can find interactive scratch-off posters or dedicated Movie Night Journals to track your progress and write short reviews after each screening.

Play Interactive Movie Games: My favorite is Movie Charades. If you looking for difficult titles to give to an opposing team, try The Day of the Triffids or Hammer Films' Twins of Evil. Both are fondly remember charade titles among my family and friends.