Celebrate your time off with these parties and events you don’t want to miss.

Lynne Konstantin
Arts & Life Editor

DEC. 21-22: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

We love Christmas time at the Redford Theatre. This week, a Christmas story for everyone — take a trip back in time at the historic theater, opened in 1928, to see on the big screen James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore and Karolyn Grimes in the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Directed by Frank Capra with Studio Films (which Capra co-founded with William Wyler and George Stevens), the film was a box-office flop — though it was nominated for five Academy Awards and placed at No. 11 by the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movies. $5. (313) 537-2560; redfordtheatre.com.

DEC. 31: MEGA ’80s NYE

The Magic Bag in Ferndale has a brand-new show for a brand new year: The Mega 80s New Year’s Eve Bash. Dig out your best ’80s duds, pile on the hairspray and rock out as Mega 80s hits the stage. $35/advanced. Themagicbag.com.

DEC. 31: NOON YEAR’S EVE

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Detroit Historical Society will be party central for the preschool set. Kids through elementary school can celebrate their own New Year’s Eve at Noon Year’s Eve with a countdown to noon. Plus, they can make their own noisemakers, write time-capsule letters, enjoy cookies and hot cocoa and more. Free admission; museum is open until 3 p.m. Detroithistorical.org.