Christmas will come early to the nation’s top 25 markets as this Saturday, November 12, begins the “12 Days of Arthur Christmas,” a nationwide schedule of family fun highlighted by two special kickoff-day celebrations in New York and Los Angeles. The 12 days of events nationwide conclude with the release of Arthur Christmas, the new 3D CG-animated family comedy from Aardman for Sony Pictures Animation, in theaters November 23, 2011.

Ever wonder how Santa delivers two billion presents in one night?  Arthur Christmas, the new 3D CG animated family comedy, in theaters November 23, answers the question, and Aardman and Sony Pictures Animation will help residents of the nation’s top 25 markets find their holiday spirit.

In West Hollywood, California, in a prime location high above the Sunset Strip (at 8755 Sunset Blvd., Sunset and Sherbourne), a “living billboard” will become Santa Claus’s Southern California base of operations away from the North Pole for the “12 Days of Arthur Christmas.” Santa’s son, Arthur, along with two elves, will be on the billboard from 7 AM – 10 PM daily, with Arthur answering select calls to Santa’s toll-free hotline at (888) 800-0010. Anyone across the US is invited to call the hotline, and throughout the 12 days, Arthur could be chatting from the billboard with anyone, from radio DJs to ordinary people with a message for Santa.  Billboards featuring that number will also be placed in high-traffic areas in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Dallas.

As Arthur handles the calls, the elves on the billboard will be wrapping presents donated to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Angelenos may bring a new, unwrapped toy or book to the billboard to donate to the program; the donated gifts will be hoisted up to the billboard, wrapped by the elves, and earmarked for a special child.

In addition, there will be a special snow-filled kickoff party at the base of the billboard on November 12, with activities for kids, including sledding, snow play, snowman building, writing letters to Santa, and making ornaments.

Meanwhile, in New York City, the Grand Central Shuttle Station becomes Christmas Party Central. With the support of partners New York MTA and Toys for Tots, the studio will give three subway shuttle train cars the full Christmas razzle-dazzle, wrapping them inside and out for Arthur Christmas. Next to the train cars, Santa will park his sleigh, where families can pose for pictures. There will also be an Arthur Christmas-themed mezzanine, where children can mail their letters to Santa and find a phone booth to call Santa’s toll-free hotline to Arthur on the billboard in Los Angeles.

At the kickoff on November 12, Santa will lead a holiday-themed book reading and MTA employees will continue the readings every day through Christmas. The day will also feature a book drive to benefit the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, an initiative sponsored by the UPS Store to benefit the children of Joplin, Missouri, the city devastated by a tornado earlier this year.

“12 Days of Arthur Christmas” events, including screenings, snow days, ice skating parties, tree lighting ceremonies, and other festivities, will begin that same day in all of the top 25 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Miami, Denver, Sacramento, Orlando, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Portland, Baltimore, San Diego, and Toronto. For more information about events planned in each market, please visit www.12daysofArthurChristmas.com.