Dare we hope this is becoming a Christmas-season tradition?

"Wishin' and Hopin'" (which aired on Lifetime TV) received its movie premiere last November at the Garde Arts Center in New London, and it gets a follow-up screening there this Sunday. This warmly nostalgic holiday comedy is based on Wally Lamb's bestselling novel of the same name.

And the always-gracious, always-entertaining Lamb will be at the Garde screening, so you might hear some engaging "Wishin'"-related stories from him.

The movie, which was partly shot in Norwich, follows fifth-grader Felix Funicello through an eventful Christmas season in 1964. He deals with his fellow parochial-school students, including a new kid from Russia, and a new French teacher, who has fresh ideas for the school's Christmas pageant.

Among the famous names who pop up in "Wishin' and Hopin'" are Molly Ringwald, Annabelle Sciorra, Meat Loaf, Cheri Oteri and Chevy Chase. Wyatt Ralff plays Felix. The movie was produced by Rocky Hill-based Synthetic Cinema International, and it was directed by Colin Theys.

"Wishin' and Hopin'," 3 p.m. Sunday, Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; $10; gardearts.org.