By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— The Grinch, Rudolf and Elf are some holiday favorites that help get people in the holiday spirit. This year, the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena will present those characters and more in its annual Christmas show Dec. 11-13.

“This year I was just kind of sitting there thinking about what Christmas means to me and my family,” said Craig Henderson, director of skating at the complex. “I thought well it’s a lot of eating and food and opening presents and enjoying family. After all that is done, what we usually do is sit around and watch movies.”

The idea for “Christmas at the Movies” was formed, and Henderson said it will be a comfortable family event for guests to enjoy the holiday classics.

Skaters ages 3 to 50 will portray movies including “Elf,” “Babes in Toyland,” “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “White Christmas,” “Home Alone,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and more. Santa Claus will also make an appearance at the show.

“What they can expect is just a really good, old-fashioned Christmas time,” Henderson said. “They are going to come and see some pretty good skating…the whole spirit of Christmas is going to be alive and well here at Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena.”

The show will also feature a special guest performance by 2012 U.S. National Junior Men’s silver medalist Tim Dolensky. Henderson said Dolensky performed in the show last year, and contacted him about performing again.

The show will run for about 80 minutes with a 15-minute intermission between the acts to give guests time to enjoy some hot cocoa.  Shows are Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children.

“We’ve been working on this since August, so there is a lot of labor that is involved and a lot of time and thinking and practice,” Henderson said. “Some of the kids are here until 8 p.m. at night doing their practice.”