Boy howdy, is there a fun summer in store for you, film fans! In case you haven’t heard, Turner Classic Movies network has packed your summer with everything you need to keep those hot, sizzling days nice and cool. Whether you’re up for family fun flicks or dark noir, TCM has the ultimate silver screen soiree scheduled for everyone… all summer long.

Starting June 5th, the home of the classics will become the home of noir with their breakthrough programming event, “Summer Of Darkness.” Hosted by Eddie Muller, over two hundred delectably dark films that shaped an entire genre will air on TCM for a full twenty-four hours every Friday, throughout June and July.

As if that wasn’t enough, TCM has teamed up with Ball State University for a film noir course offering, “Into The Darkness: Investigating Film Noir.” It’s not too late to sign up for this FREE online multimedia class. Whether you’re a noir aficionado or a noir newbie, this is the event not to be missed! Everyone is welcome and its easily self-paced to accommodate any schedule. You don’t even have to be subscribed to TCM network (they’ll provide links) to complete the class- but following along to Eddie Muller’s Summer Of Darkness is definitely the ideal way to enjoy the experience.

The coursework includes social media components so it’s a great way to connect with fellow film fans. Twitter hashtag for both the course and simply watching along on Fridays… #NoirSummer. You can skip the trench coat and fedora if so inclined (but I’m rather inclined myself), then just click HERE for all the details!

But wait, there’s more. You can enter sweepstakes for a chance at nabbing some cool stuff at the noir shop! (I’ll take the fedora, or the martini shaker, or the $50k 1941 Lincoln Continental, thank you very much.) Just sign up for the class, then enter for your chance to win HERE.

Ready for something on the lighter side of the dark shadows? How about the TCM Movie Camp! In what used to be the Essentials, Jr. past timeslot on Sunday evenings hosted by the hilarious and talented Bill Hader, the good folks at TCM are bringing us an updated format with new hosts. Movie Camp will look at flicks for all ages but with a fun twist starting this weekend.

From Moonbot Studios, Oscar-winning hosts William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg will serve as our camp counselors, introducing classics with an appeal for younger audiences. And no need for bug spray or suncreen! With a new animated intro, they’ll show us the fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits to engage the curious minds of young and old alike.

If you have a summer vacation planned, I’d recommend pushing it off ’til August. And if you can’t budget the beach destination this year, no problem. This is the summer to “staycation” with TCM. Your June and July months are now booked solid in sizzling style. As the ‘Noir Ninja’ himself Eddie Muller says, noir is “suffering with style.” I’m looking forward to earning my certification via this noir course, to animated Sunday evenings, and to spending my summer discovering exactly what he means by that description. After all, if film noir is suffering in style, I’ll willingly – and fashionably – retreat into those shadows.