There’ll be puppets and popcorn, an old movie favorite and even a special Golden Ticket Raffle to win a one year free family pass to the Lafayette Theater in Suffern.

The civic celebration takes place Sunday, June 22, when the historic Lafayette Theater holds its second 90th Anniversary of the year – in case you missed the first. A pillar of the Ramapo community and backbone of Suffern’s business district, the Lafayette has weathered more changes in weather and attitude than your grandmother. The doors for Sunday’s special event open at 1 p.m. Tickets for the celebration are a pricey 25¢ — all tickets will be sold at the door with no pre-sale tickets available.

“Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.” — Willy Wonka

The day will feature a live performance of the strange creatures from the Hudson Vagabond Puppets, a weird and wonderful life-sized puppet outfit based in Rockland County. HVP’s performs colorful puppet theater that includes dance and acting and should be a festive treat. The Lafayette program is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory will be the featured afternoon film, with a special Golden Ticket Raffle that will award a One Year Free Family Pass to all movies shown at the Lafayette Theater to the lucky winner.

The Lafayette Theater opened its doors on March 3, 1924, it is one of the oldest movie palaces in the County still screening first run and classic movies.  It has been named by USA Today as one of the Top Ten Classic Movie Theaters in the County.

All tickets for the June 22nd Celebration will be 25¢ at the door, with no pre-sale tickets available – doors will open at 1:00 PM.  All proceeds will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 333 “Handcycles For Disabled Veterans” program.

The Lafayette Theater is located at 97 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, N.Y.  Nearby parking is available in the Theater lot, Suffern municipal lots and Avon parking lot at 35 Washington Avenue.