KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene will come alive this April as the city hosts a weekend-long celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the iconic 1995 film “Jumanji,” which famously featured the city as a key filming location. Organizers have scheduled the event for April 11-13, 2025, promising a nostalgic experience for fans, locals, and anyone who played a role in the production.

Before the main event, a smaller gathering will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tempesta’s Restaurant, located in the Best Western Hotel at 401 Winchester Street. This venue holds sentimental value, as it was the site of the original casting call for the film, according to a news release. Bar service will be available, and organizers encourage former cast members, extras, and their families to attend, bringing along any memorabilia they may have kept from the production.

More than 125 local and regional residents were cast as extras in “Jumanji,” which was filmed in downtown Keene during the fall of 1994 and spring of 1995, the release said. The movie had its regional premiere at the historic Colonial Theatre on a snowy night in December 1995, making Keene one of the first cities where audiences got to see the blockbuster.

In honor of the milestone, organizers plan to revive memories of the film’s original 1995 cast party, which took place on Dec. 10 of that year. During the January gathering, plans will be unveiled for a red-carpet event scheduled for Friday, April 11, which will kick off the anniversary weekend. Attendees at the January meeting are encouraged to share stories, photos, and memorabilia—especially those who contributed vintage cars and bicycles that helped create the film’s 1960s aesthetic.

The upcoming anniversary celebration will be one of Keene’s last large public gatherings before a major three-year infrastructure project begins downtown. Event organizer Cathy Bergstrom, a member of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to commemorate the film before construction alters the city’s streetscape.

“We are thrilled to get to work with the City and several of the Main Street merchants to create this event,” she said in the release. “So many people have great stories to share from their experiences when Jumanji was being filmed here.”

To stay updated on event details, visit the Jumanji 30th Anniversary Facebook page or contact Cathy Bergstrom directly at bergstrom9@comcast.net. A video recording of the original 1995 cast party, created by the Keene High School AV Club, has been digitized by FACT TV and is available for viewing online here. 

This celebration promises to be a trip down memory lane for those who witnessed the making of Jumanji, offering a unique opportunity to honor Keene’s role in Hollywood history.