Whoville Community Event Comes to Life at The Nancy & David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

This year’s donor-supported, low-cost holiday celebration was a heartwarming reminder of how special The Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre remains for our community. Presented by Ruth Eckerd Hall, the event welcomed approximately 200 attendees, made up largely of young families, with kids from 1 to 92. Many guests fully embraced the spirit of Whoville, arriving in festive Grinch-themed outfits, which added to the playful and joyful atmosphere of the evening.

A longtime highlight of the event is the generosity of Baystar Restaurant Group, who once again donated 10 bicycles. Each year, these bikes are either raffled off or awarded through a game, creating unforgettable moments and big smiles for some very lucky attendees. Guests also enjoyed treats from two food trucks serving hot cocoa, while the celebration kicked off with a live performance from music students of The Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts on stage, followed by a family-friendly movie screening.

Upstairs, guests had the opportunity to meet The Grinch and Cindy Lou in-person, who were available for photos and added a truly magical touch to the experience.

Despite the weather-related challenges, our family-friendly Holiday experience once again proved to be a joyful, community-centered event that brings families together and creates lasting holiday memories. We’re grateful to our Ruth Eckerd Hall donors and members, who help to make programs such as these a meaningful Clearwater tradition year after year.