The Crawleys are coming to California — in grand style. To mark the release of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Alamo Drafthouse’s Rolling Roadshow will host a dazzling gala screening at the historic Virginia Robinson Gardens & Estate in Beverly Hills on Thursday, September 11. Rolling Roadshow, which is now celebrating its 25th anniversary, has become well known across the land for pairing iconic films with equally iconic locations, and this year’s centerpiece event promises to be the most elegant yet.
Guests will be treated to:
- A Downton Abbey-inspired English dinner with themed cocktails.
- Guided tours of the estate’s mansion and gardens.
- Live music and dancing to set the mood.
- A costume gala, where guests are encouraged to dress in period-inspired or cocktail attire.
- A post-screening Q&A with cast members.
- An exclusive limited-edition Downton Abbey teacup and saucer set as a keepsake.
Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite and are expected to sell out quickly. For fans who can’t make the gala, tickets for the nationwide theatrical run are also on sale now via Alamo Drafthouse.
“For twenty-five years, Rolling Roadshow has immersed film lovers in their favorite movies in spectacular fashion, but this is by far our most elegant production yet,” said Chaya Rosenthal, Alamo Drafthouse’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Our guests have always shown a deep love for Downton Abbey, selling out shows and enthusiastically turning out for Fancy Dress screenings, and this is the perfect way to honor that passion – an opulent, immersive experience worthy of the Crawleys.” And that’s not all! In addition to the Rolling Roadshow, it’s time for you to look out your fanciest frocks, because Alamo Drafthouse is also putting tickets on sale today for Alamo’s “Fancy Dress Screenings” of the film. That’s right — become a Crawley and enjoy yourself the way you were meant to.
What Else Is Happening With ‘Downton Abbey’?
The Beverly Hills gala is just one of the ways fans can celebrate the end of an era. On September 10, NBC will air Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale, a one-hour primetime reunion special at 9 p.m. ET/PT (streaming the next day on Peacock). Filmed at London’s Savoy Hotel, the event reunites cast members including Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, and Paul Giamatti for behind-the-scenes stories, reflections, and a world-exclusive preview of The Grand Finale.
Set in the early 1930s, the final chapter follows the Crawleys and their staff as they face scandal, financial upheaval, and the loss of Violet Crawley (the late Maggie Smith). With bankruptcy looming, Lady Mary’s troubled marriage in the spotlight, and Harold Levinson (Giamatti) returning as a formidable threat, the family must confront the possibility that this farewell could also spell the end of Downton itself. The film features returning favorites alongside newcomers Alessandro Nivola, Joely Richardson, Arty Froushan, and Simon Russell Beale, and is directed by Simon Curtis and written by series creator Julian Fellowes.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale opens in theaters on September 12.
