Save the Date: Classic holiday movies back on big screen

This weekend offers up a chance to cozy up at the local cinema with classic holiday movies.

Kiggins Theatre will kick off with “A Christmas Story,” rated PG, at 3 and 7 p.m. today, 5 p.m. Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Monday, and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. And Will Ferrell’s comedy “Elf,” rated PG, can be seen at 1 and 5 p.m. today, 3 p.m. Sunday, and 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. Tickets are $5. Call 360-816-0352 or visit www.kigginstheatre.net

Liberty Theatre, 315 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas, will show the 3-D screening of “The Polar Express,” rated G, at 3:10 p.m. today and Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday; and 7:40 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. While there’s no Santa in sight, “Antarctica: A Year on Ice,” rated PG, introduces the audience to those who live and work on the frozen continent. It will be shown at 1 and 6 p.m. today and Sunday, with 6 p.m. screenings through Thursday. Tickets are $4, $5 for 3-D films. Call 360-859-9555 or visit www.camasliberty.com

It’s a “Nutcracker” weekend, with three versions.

Northwest Classical Ballet will present the original production of the ballet. Children dancers will perform along side preprofessional and professional company dancers at 2 and 7:30 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday at Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver. Tickets are $15. Call 888-487-7454 or visit www.northwestclassicalballet.com

Vancouver School of Arts and Academics dancers and musicians present “Jazzy Nutcracker,” incorporating the spirit of the USO events with Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite.” The performance begins at 7 tonight at VSAA, 3101 Main St., Vancouver. Tickets are $4, $3 for seniors. Call 360-313-4600 or visit arts.vansd.org.

DanceWorks and Vancouver City Ballet will add aerial skills to the ballet choreography in its presentation of “The Nutcracker.” The performance begins at 2 and 7 p.m. today, and 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday at Prairie High School, 11500 N.E. 117th Ave., Vancouver. Tickets are $12 to $15, $10 for seniors, $8 to $10 for children, free for ages 5 and younger. Call 360-892-5664 or visit www.danceworkswa.com

Hanukkah begins Tuesday, and the Chabad Jewish Center of Clark County will host Chanukah Lights: Community Menorah Lighting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The public menorah lighting includes “glow in the dark” performance, as well as live music, kids crafts and food for purchase after the lighting in the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St., Vancouver. The free menorah lighting will be at Esther Short Park, Columbia and West Eighth streets, Vancouver. Call 360-993-5222 or visit www.jewishvancouverwa.com

The final nights of the Christmas Ship Parade on the Columbia River are set for Tuesday through Friday. The fleet leaves from the M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp, near the Sextant Bar & Galley, 4035 N.E. Marine Drive, Portland, each night at 7 p.m. Check out The Columbian’s Life section for a map of that night’s route (There is no local route tonight). Vancouver viewing spots include:

• Marine Park, Southeast Marine Park Way and Columbia Way;

• Waterfront Park, 115 S.E. Columbia Way;

• Wintler Beach Community Park, 6400 Beach Drive;

• Vancouver Landing, 100 Columbia St., Vancouver.

The grand finale with both the Willamette and Columbia river fleets is at 5 p.m. Dec. 21 near the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the RiverPlace Marina, 1750 S.W. Harbor Way, Portland. For more information, visit www.christmasships.org