August 22 - 25, 2024

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

FAN EXPO Canada

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Team Picks: Fav Holiday Specials

Here at FAN EXPO HQ, our team is always nerding out over the world of fandom. On Team Picks, we share some of our favourite things we’ve been watching, reading and playing. This month, because it’s the holiday season, we’re looking back at our fav holiday specials. 

These specials come in many forms, be it animated, live action or otherwise. Many of them can make the holidays even more special, for reasons that are unique and personal to each and every one of us. 

Today, we’re spreading our holiday cheer by reminiscing about our favourite holiday specials. 

Home Alone

Kevin from Home Alone

Emily
Project Manager

Home Alone. Hands down my all-time favourite holiday special. Every Christmas, my family would gather around the living room with our cups of coffee & hot chocolate and watch Kevin get into all his shenanigans. We've now started this tradition with the newer additions to our family, so Home Alone will live on forever!  

A Christmas Carol (1984)

A still from A Christmas Carol (1984)

Allen
Graphic Designer 

My favourite holiday special is A Christmas Carol. And why? Because it's the classic of course and especially the performance from George Scott and the supporting casts. It also reminds me of my childhood as it's usually on reruns when Christmas season hits. It triggers that warm festive feeling when you spend Christmas with your family, and I love that. 

The Year Without a Santa Claus

Characters from The Year Without a Santa Claus

Mark
Graphic Designer 

I'm a fan of Holiday specials, so I could add quite a few to this list but the Heat Miser Song, from the movie The Year Without a Santa Claus will forever be etched in my brain as one of my earliest Christmas memories after emigrating to Canada at 5 years old. 

Hallmark Christmas Movies

Characters from a Hallmark Christmas Movie

Mercy
Digital Marketing Manager 

I think my favorite would be any and all Hallmark Christmas movies. It’s because I love the predictable story lines with one of the characters going back ''home'' in distress only to always fall in love with their childhood friend and decide to quit their job and open a bakery. They’re an easy watch, nothing too deep. Enjoying a Hallmark movie with the family is always a good chill time. Family Love is in the air during the holidays. 

Duck The Halls

Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck from Duck The Halls

Tayner
Copywriter  

I watch this Christmas short every year without fail & it continues to horrify people. The premise is that Donald Duck always has to fly South for the winter, and therefore misses Christmas with his Mouse friends who stay for the snow. This year, Donald decides to break the norm and stay up North. This leads him down a dangerous path of getting deathly ill & eventually… never mind. I’ll just say: Ducks aren’t meant to get cold. For a genuine Disney children’s short film, it never fails to shock people with how dark it gets out of nowhere. If you want to see what I mean without watching it, just Google Image Search “Duck the Halls sick Donald”. I love this special. 

Home Alone 1 & 2

Kevin in Home Alone 2

Meaghan
Digital Marketing Manager 

[Editor’s Note: If you needed proof that Home Alone is a classic, it being mentioned twice is it.] 

I love the when the Holiday season comes around because I will always watch Home Alone 1 and 2. I feel like they are classic movies, and really, how could you not like them