The monthly NHDocs series that debuted in November is already taking a turn towards adapting its offerings, this time considering not only the holiday season but the spirit of its generosity and good cheer. Moving the series to the third weekend of the month is only one part of the change. Adding in a filmed musical event and raising funds for a local beloved club are two more.
Beginning Friday, Dec. 18 and running through Dec. 26, NHDocs: The New Haven Documentary Film Festival, in association with Dean Falcone and Cafe Nine, will be presenting not only a film, but also a streaming version of Falcone’s annual live music event known as the Vomitorium. It has been renamed this year as the COVIDtorium, for obvious reasons. This online documentary/filmed concert event is similar to the one NHDocs and Falcone teamed up for this past summer as part of the NHDocs annual festival that combined the Vivian Cash focused documentary My Darling Vivian with a collection of Johnny Cash covers.
The Vomitorium — typically held on the night before Thanksgiving at Cafe Nine — has been revamped as a filmed series of holiday-themed musical performances by a long list of local acts (The Shellye Valauskas Experience, Brian Samuel Robinson, and Bronson Rock ) as well as national acts (Lydia Loveless, Julianna Hatfield, and Jon Auer) all prerecorded and shown as one event. This will be shown along with this month’s film, which is also holiday themed: North Pole, N.Y.
Focusing on the Santa’s Workshop theme park nestled within the Adirondacks for over 70 years, this enlightening 2018 film takes an in-depth look at the beloved park’s origins and growth as well as its difficulties maintaining its vitality over the years as travel and traditions became more modernized. The viewer is taken behind the scenes to see the hard work and dedication of the staff that make sure each and every detail reflects on the park’s commitment to providing its visitors with a memorable experience seeped in the magic of Christmas.
Attention is paid to the development of the park itself and the effect it had on not only the town of Wilmington — in which it resides — but the theme park industry itself. The film also reflects on the effect the park has had on its visitors, some of whom have been traveling there repeatedly for years to share the joy experienced in their childhood with their own children and grandchildren.
An iconic landmark that has survived everything from a greedy con man to a changing economy, Santa’s Workshop stands as a testament to those who believe the impossible is possible, and who want to share those possibilities with generations to come. North Pole, NY is an ode to those “Santa’s helpers” — of this park and of this world — and reminds us, especially in our current climate, that we can all do our part to keep what we love alive and thriving.
Tickets for this event can be purchased here.
