Sometimes an event you discover online inspires you to create something special of your own. Here’s how we’re bringing a little Christmas Carol magic home for the whole family.

This is a week the LORD has been discovering my steps as I’ve been lucky and discovering things online that makes me stop and start thinking outside the box. That is exactly what happened when I came across A Christmas Carol Cocktail Experience coming to Fort Worth. First, let me give a round of applause to the creative people behind this Christmas-themed event.

For me I love seeing someone take a beloved Christmas story and turn it into an experience people can enjoy. I would love to purchase tickets for David because I think he would have a wonderful time. Unfortunately, with our current financial circumstances, I didn’t think attending was something we could afford, even though I wanted to go. And there is another little detail: the event is for guests 21 and older.

I completely, totally, 100% support that age restriction. It is a cocktail experience, and the hosts have every right to establish the age requirements for their event. I respect that, and I wouldn’t expect them to change their rules. But that got me thinking. Just because we can’t attend doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a little Christmas Carol magic at home!

I wanted to come up with something special that our whole family could enjoy, including Charlie. Instead of purchasing tickets, we could create our own A Christmas Carol Christmas movie night, complete with festive drinks, snacks, and a little Christmas atmosphere.

That is one thing I love about discovering events online. Sometimes they inspire us to do something different, even if we can’t participate in the original event. We can take that inspiration, add our own family touches, and create memories right where we are. And honestly, those memories don’t have to come with an expensive ticket.

Before I share our movie-night ideas, I want to recognize the people behind A Christmas Carol Cocktail Experience again. Their creative event is what got me thinking about how we could bring this classic Christmas story into our home. I appreciate businesses and event creators who come up with new ways to bring people together and give families and adults something different to look forward to during the holidays.

If you are 21 or older and enjoy Christmas cocktails and immersive experiences, I encourage you to check out their original event. You can find more information about the experience here: A Christmas Carol Cocktail Experience – Official Website Our family movie night is not a recreation of their production. It is my own family-friendly idea inspired by discovering their event. I want to make sure the people who created the original experience receive the recognition they deserve.

The first thing we need for our evening is a movie! One of the things I enjoy about Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is that the story has been told in so many different ways. There are versions for different ages and tastes, which makes it easy to choose something your family will enjoy.

You might choose:

• Mickey’s Christmas Carol – A shorter, family-friendly way to introduce younger children to the story.
• The Muppet Christmas Carol – A fun version with familiar characters, music, humor, and plenty of Christmas spirit.
• A traditional film adaptation – A wonderful choice for families who want to enjoy Dickens’ original story in a more classic format.

David and I have watched A Christmas Carol together, and I have enjoyed reading Charles Dickens’ story. I think it is one of those Christmas traditions worth sharing with the next generation. Which is why I will be keeping my event open for everyone of all ages.

You can choose the version your family enjoys most. You can use a movie you already own or check the current viewing and rental options available to you. You don’t have to decorate your entire house or spend a lot of money to make the evening special. Gather some comfortable blankets, turn on the Christmas tree lights, and make a cozy spot for everyone to sit. If you have a few Christmas decorations, little lanterns, or battery-operated candles, use those to add a little extra atmosphere.

You could even make homemade movie tickets and let everyone know they have been invited to a special Christmas Carol family movie night. The best part is that everyone gets to participate. No fancy decorations or expensive supplies are required. Since the original Fort Worth event inspired me with its Christmas cocktail theme, I wanted to come up with a festive drink for our own family evening.

This is a nonalcoholic drink everyone can enjoy, including Charlie.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup ginger ale or sparkling apple cider
• A small squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• Ice
• Apple slices or a cinnamon stick for garnish

Directions

1. Add the apple cider and cranberry juice to a glass.
2. Stir in the lemon juice.
3. Add ice and top with ginger ale or sparkling apple cider.
4. Give it a gentle stir.
5. Garnish with an apple slice or cinnamon stick.

The cranberry gives the drink a pretty Christmas color, while the apple and cinnamon flavors bring a little holiday warmth.

An adult-only option: If an adult 21 or older would like an alcoholic version, prepare the nonalcoholic drink first and add a measured splash of bourbon or dark rum to that adult’s individual glass only. Keep the family pitcher alcohol-free and clearly separate the adult serving. That way, everyone has something festive to enjoy without making a separate drink for the entire family.

Tiny Tim’s Cranberry Christmas Crunch– What would a movie night be without popcorn? I wanted something a little more special than an ordinary bowl of popcorn, so here’s a festive snack idea inspired by the Christmas season.

Ingredients

• 8 cups popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• A pinch of salt
• A little orange zest, if desired

Directions

1. Spread the popped popcorn over a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in short intervals and stirring until smooth.
3. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the popcorn.
4. Sprinkle the dried cranberries, cinnamon, salt, and optional orange zest over the top.
5. Gently toss to distribute the ingredients.
6. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.

Put the popcorn in a big Christmas bowl or divide it into individual cups so everyone has their own movie-night snack. You could even make little snack bags and give them Christmas-themed names! One thing I like about family movie nights is that they don’t have to be all about sitting quietly until the credits roll. You can pause the movie, talk about the story, and let everyone share what they think.

Here are a few questions to get the conversation started:

• Who is your favorite character in A Christmas Carol?
• Why do you think Scrooge changes?
• Which of the three Christmas spirits would you most like to meet?
• What does Christmas mean to you?
• What is one kind thing you could do for someone this holiday season?
• What is one family Christmas memory you hope we never forget?

You don’t have to turn it into a school lesson. Just enjoy talking together and hearing what everyone thinks. If you want to make the evening even more fun, create a few homemade admission tickets. You can write: ADMIT ONE A Christmas Carol Family Movie Night

Good for one evening of Christmas movies, festive drinks, popcorn, laughter, and family memories. You could leave a ticket on everyone’s pillow, put one beside their dinner plate, or hand them out before the movie begins. It is a small touch, but sometimes those little surprises are what make an ordinary evening feel special.

I still think A Christmas Carol Cocktail Experience in Fort Worth sounds like a wonderful event. I would love for David and me to have the opportunity to attend, and I hope the people behind it have a successful Christmas season. I also want them to know that their creativity inspired this idea. Discovering their event reminded me that sometimes we don’t have to wait until we can afford a special outing to make something memorable happen.

We can be inspired by what someone else creates and then find a way to bring a little of that joy into our own homes. This Christmas, I’m trying to concentrate more on experiences and making memories with David and Charlie. Our children grow up so quickly, and I don’t want to miss opportunities to enjoy the time we have together.

Whether we are attending a special event, watching a Christmas movie, sharing a bowl of popcorn, or enjoying a festive drink around the coffee table, what matters most is the time we spend together. And who knows? Maybe our little Christmas Carol movie night will become another family tradition.

Have you ever discovered an event that inspired you to create something special at home? I’d love to hear about it! This family movie-night idea was inspired by A Christmas Carol Cocktail Experience in Fort Worth. Please visit the event’s official website to learn about and support the original 21-and-over experience and its creative team.

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Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.

GraterfulBlesssed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates