It’s that time of year…Christmas in July! Not sure why I felt like writing this but sometimes I just want it to be Christmas.

I have lots of favorite Christmas movies, but there are two that I must watch annually. The first is the beloved classic White Christmas starring Bing Crosby. This movie I always watch with my Mom. However, this post is about my all-time favorite Christmas movie that I watch with my Dad. I this post, I will be making my case as to why this is the best Christmas movie ever.

Snowden On Ice is an ice-skating musical that originally aired on CBS in 1997. The project was funded by the Target corporation and VHS tapes of the film were sold exclusively in Target stores. As far as I know, there are no DVD copies of this movie. Every year, we jerry rig our VHS, say a prayer, and watch the super high quality tape. One of these days, I know it will die and I will definitely be crying. However, the entire film is available for free on YouTube. The quality is low but, hey, beggars can’t be choosers. I will post a link to my playlist at the end of this post so you can experience the magic of Snowden for yourself!

This movie stars Olympic figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva as Kate and her daughter Daria Grinkova as Lizzie. The jack of all trades Canadian Kurt Browning appears as the hockey coach, Grandpa Albert, young Albert, and as the title character, Snowden. Rounding out the cast is the athletic Josée Chouinard as Shana and Scott Hamilton as Scootch or the magical Zamboni Man. In addition to the incredibly talented cast, much of this story is conveyed through the musical talents of writer Randy Goodrum. The songs were performed by beloved, feel-good artists such as Amy Grant, Olivia Newton-John, Anne Murray, Lou Rawls, Kenny Rogers and B.J. Thomas.

The story opens by introducing Kate, a successful children’s book author who is heading home to her grandfather’s residence beside Albert Pond. She grew up skating there and wants to share the magic of the place with her young daughter Lizzie. A magical snowman named Snowden has always lived beside the lake and is an important part of Kate’s memories. There is an endearing parallel narrative in this story about Kate and her relationship with Grandpa Albert. I won’t be giving away all the details here so you’ll just have to go watch the movie yourself.

Every year, the community gathers at Albert Pond for the ice festival. Scootch, the Zamboni man, joyfully prepares the ice for skating. He describes the event as “kind of like the Fourth of July with icicles.” People of all ages gather at the pond to socialize, practice hockey and rehearse difficult figure skating moves.

Kate is determined for her daughter to learn how to skate and make friends, even though Kate herself hasn’t stepped on the ice in years. When Lizzie fails at skating, the pain of her rejection resonates with her mother, since she felt the same pain as a young girl. After Lizzie goes to sleep, Kate finds the courage to skate once again. Snowden was the one who encouraged her to melt the ice of her fears and discover the brave skater she once was.

At the end of the film, there is a skating competition between Kate and her old rival, the effervescent Shana. Lizzie and the other skaters are inspired by Kate’s tenacity. The movie ends with a party at Grandpa Albert’s house celebrating community, kindness and love. I don’t want to give away the details about the end of movie, but I will describe it as simple, yet profound in both cultural messages and emotional significance that embellish the spirit of Christmas.

I think that Snowden on Ice is the best Christmas movie ever because it is so incredibly unique. The storyline is very relatable, as communities everywhere bond over common activities that they love. Families and friends can relate to the values of kindness, support and encouragement that are presented in this film. Children will understand that the issues in this story were resolved through support, understanding and developed self-esteem. People of all ages will enjoy this film since it is filled with humor, heart and visual beauty.

In addition to the rich storyline, the sets, costumes and ice skating in this film are all impeccable. The music in this movie is absolutely superb and not just because the songs are easy to sing along with. The messages they carry are integral to conveying the plot and mood of each scene. I love all of the songs in this movie, but my favorite has to be the last song which is titled, “Come Gather Around the Table” and is performed by Kenny Rogers. This song is my favorite because it perfectly embodies the spirit of Christmas. Families and friends gather, sometimes from miles apart, to create special memories. Though our loved ones may pass on, the memories we make together will continue to live on in our hearts, long after the Christmas season has ended.

Snowden on Ice YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0CK4vuKg1f4NQqIESsqDpeWjAjMS_k2P