Hollywood’s not the only place that will be abuzz on Oscar Night 2009. The Carolina Theatre, in conjunction with the Community Theatre of Greensboro, will host its inaugural Oscar Week Festival during the days leading up to the 81st Annual Academy Awards. It’s one of only a handful of events in the country to be officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The festival — running February 16 through 22 — kicks off with a week’s worth of Oscar-winning films that were selected by the theater’s e-newsletter subscribers. The films will air nightly at 7:30 and admission is $5.

The festivities culminate on Sunday, February 22 with the Academy Awards telecast airing on Carolina Theatre’s expansive projection screen. In addition to the broadcast, there will be a silent auction, a black-tie dinner, even a mock “red carpet” swarming with paparazzi and celebrity impersonators. According to Meagan Kopp, marketing director at the Carolina Theatre, the aim is to give attendees an authentic Oscar experience in the comfort of their own community.

“We feel like there’s no better time to celebrate the Triad’s favorite past Academy Award winners than the very week of an Oscar-sanctioned event,” she says. “It’s going to be a wonderful night for Oscar fans.” — Michael Breedlove

Beer and wine will be sold at the festival in addition to popcorn, candy, and soda. For more information, call the Carolina Theatre box office at 336-333-2605 or go to http://www.carolinatheatre.com.