It's A Wonderful Life Museum

10/19/2026

Special Announcement

Greetings Wonderful Runners and Walkers!!
It has been a long standing tradition of this race to not reveal or show the race shirt until the night before the race. It’s become kind of a thing.
Well, we’ve decided to break from tradition, maybe start a new one, and conduct a race shirt drop (as the kids now say) and reveal this year’s race shirt.
So, in addition to having the best time you’ll ever have at a 5K, you will also receive this one of a kind, long sleeve, moisture wicking, incredibly cool It’s A Wonderful Run 5K race shirt!!!

Show and tell your friends and register today! Www.itsawonderfulrun5k.com.

10/15/2026

🎄🏃‍♀️ Lace up your running shoes and become part of an annual tradition that truly celebrates the spirit of It's a Wonderful Life!

Join us for the 18th Annual It's a Wonderful Run 5K on Saturday, December 12, 2026, in the real Bedford Falls, Seneca Falls, New York!

More than just a race, this beloved event was created with three simple goals:
✨ Bring friends and families together during the holiday season.
✨ Welcome visitors to our charming town and support local businesses.
✨ Raise money for those in need.

Whether you're racing through the decorated streets of Seneca Falls or participating virtually from wherever you call home, you'll be part of a community that embodies George Bailey's reminder that no one is a failure who has friends.

📍 Live Race in Seneca Falls (Bedford Falls, NY 😉)

🗓 Saturday, December 12, 2026
⏰ Race begins at 4:40 PM

💻 Can't make it in person? Register for the Virtual Run and participate December 12–13 from anywhere safe!

🎽 Packet pickup will be held at the Seneca Falls Community Center:
• Friday, December 11 | 4:30–7:30 PM
• Saturday, December 12 | Noon–4:00 PM

Gather your family, wear your favorite holiday costume, and experience one of the most magical traditions of our 80th Anniversary Celebration.

🎟 Learn more and register at: itsawonderfulrun5k.com

10/15/2026

🎂✨ Happy Birthday, Carol Coombs! ✨🎂

Today, October 15, we’re celebrating Carol Coombs, who was born on this day in 1936! ❤️

As Janie Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, Carol helped bring one of America’s most beloved holiday classics to life. Nearly 80 years later, the film continues to remind us that every life touches so many others in ways we may never fully realize.

Join us in wishing Carol a very happy birthday and celebrating the lasting magic she brought to Bedford Falls! 🎬🎄

Happy Birthday, Carol! You’ll always be part of our wonderful life. ❤️

10/13/2026

✨ ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH: CELEBRATING FRANK CAPRA✨

Before there was Bedford Falls, there was Frank Capra.

Born in Sicily in 1897, Capra immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He went on to become one of Hollywood’s most celebrated directors and ultimately created one of the most beloved films of all time: It’s a Wonderful Life.

Capra’s story is, in many ways, an American story. An immigrant who built a life, found his voice, and helped shape American cinema.

And then there’s Seneca Falls.

For decades, our community has asked a fascinating question: Did this Italian American filmmaker visit Seneca Falls in 1945 and did what he saw here help inspire Bedford Falls?

There is no definitive proof.

But there is a story.

And it’s a story we’ll be exploring throughout Italian American Heritage Month because sometimes history lives in the space between what we can prove and what we can imagine.

Stay tuned. The story gets even more interesting...

10/12/2026

10/11/2026

🎂❤️ Happy Birthday, Sarah Edwards (Mrs. Hatch)! 😇🔔

Today, October 11, we remember Sarah Edwards, affectionately known as Mrs. Hatch, on her birthday. ❤️

As we celebrate another birthday in the spirit of It’s a Wonderful Life, we’re reminded of the special people who make our lives a little more wonderful. Today, we honor Sarah’s memory and celebrate her place in the story we continue to cherish. ✨

Join us in wishing Sarah a heavenly happy birthday! ❤️😇🔔

10/10/2026

❤️ who else is excited to celebrate 80 years of this movie and its message?

SENECA FALLS — In 1946, director Frank Capra and Liberty Films studio released his life-affirming movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” to little acclaim.

10/10/2026

💙 World Mental Health Day | October 10

As we prepare to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of It’s a Wonderful Life this December, we’re reminded that some of the film’s most powerful messages are just as meaningful today as they were 80 years ago.

“No man is a failure who has friends.”

George Bailey’s story reminds us of something incredibly important: we are connected to one another, and our lives matter. We may never fully know the difference a kind word, a helping hand, a listening ear, or simply showing up can make in someone else’s life.

This World Mental Health Day, take a moment to check in on someone. Make the phone call. Send the text. Ask how they’re really doing. And if you’re the one who is struggling, remember that you don’t have to face it alone.

As we gather this December for our 80th Anniversary Festival, we’ll celebrate a story that has brought generations of people together and continues to remind us of the extraordinary impact one life can have.

✨ Your life matters. Your story matters. You matter.

We hope you’ll join us December 9–13 as we celebrate 80 years of It’s a Wonderful Life and the timeless message that reminds us all of the importance of community, friendship, and hope.

10/09/2026

🔔 2 Months to Go

✨ 2 months until the It’s A Wonderful Life Festival! ✨

Two months to go and the anticipation is building! The Museum continues to prepare for a season of celebration, reflection, and gratitude—made possible through community support.

👉 Visit, donate, and help us spread the joy

10/08/2026

Planning is well underway! Make sure to keep checking back on our website for more details and special events.

Seneca Falls is hosting a five-day festival from December 9-13 to mark the 80th anniversary of Frank Capra's beloved holiday classic, which was inspired by the charming upstate New York town.