11 Hallmark Holiday Movie Towns You Can Visit IRL This Season
Any one of these towns is guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit.
‘Tis the season: We’re buttoning our coats, making Thanksgiving plans, and swapping Chardonnay for hot toddies or our favorite reds. It's time to indulge in one of Hallmark's "Countdown to Christmas" holiday romances—inevitably set in a charming town full of friendly locals. But there’s one thing more magical than watching a Christmas love story unfold on screen: Visiting one of the picture-perfect Hallmark movie towns in real life.
From tiny new England towns in Vermont to charming Southern holidays at Dollywood and Graceland, from blustery Ontario streets to cozy colonial villages, we have the best Hallmark holiday backdrops for a last-minute Christmas vacation.
This year, whisk yourself away to one of these 12 real-life towns that served as Hallmark holiday film settings. And if this holiday romance inspiration isn't enough, check out these 10 Christmas getaways recommended by travel influencers.
While wandering the town in Christmas in Evergreen (2017), protagonist Allie (played by Ashley Williams) exclaims, “This is what Christmas is supposed to look like!” We couldn’t agree more. Burnaby’s annual Heritage Christmas looks exactly like a winter snowglobe: blustery snow swirling around a vintage carousel, crackling blacksmith’s fire, and a downtown straight out of the 1920s.
It’s easy to imagine why Ogden made the cut when Hallmark Channel execs needed a fresh snowscape for Christmas Made to Order (2018). From Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, Ogden’s night sky glows with light from Christmas Village, a collection of quaint cottages designed especially for the holidays. Visitors can ride the town’s Polar Express while admiring historic downtown’s 25th Street. If you enjoy escaping the hustle and bustle of town for an exhilarating afternoon in the snow, head to the slopes on nearby Powder Mountain.
Fancy a classic New England Christmas? The town of Chester, Vermont, delivers in spades. In fact, after hosting the classic Moonlight & Mistletoe in 2008 (the town went by “Santaville” in the film), the downtown charmed once again in the refreshingly modern The Truth About Christmas (2018) produced by Freeform. Join revelers and carolers in the enchanting Stone Village Historic District when you stroll to the white gazebo on Chester Green (shown in both films).
While you might not fall for the town innkeeper like Jessica (Taylor Cole) did in Christmas in Homestead, (2016) you can soak in the charm of six bed and breakfasts during the Sleigh Bell Tour of the Inns of Dahlonega, Georgia. Afterward, hop on a romantic horse-drawn carriage before trekking through the snowy forest of the Festival of Trees. On historic Dahlonega Square, wrap up last-minute shopping at the village’s bustling Christmas Market on Candy Cane Lane (don’t miss the old-fashioned Dahlonega General Store!).
Tucked into the Forest Hills neighborhood of seaside Wilmington, N.C., is a house that served as the main stage for Christmas in Conway (2013). A bittersweet romance, the film showcases a touching labor of love: a husband’s backyard Ferris Wheel construction project for his sick wife. Filming also took place near Cafe Fear Country Club. The stately grounds are an elegant holiday antidote to the chilly Atlantic boardwalk.
Cocooned in the rolling foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Dollywood is a haven for country music fans at any time of year. But the theme park and surrounding area turn it up a notch at Christmastime. One of Hallmark’s 2019 movies, Christmas at Dollywood, captures the spirit of Smoky Mountain Christmas festivities: award-winning concerts, a 50-foot sparkling Christmas tree, and cozy cabin retreats where you can snuggle by the fire.
Many holiday romantic comedies play on the clash between big city chaos and small town charm. In Mapleton, Utah, you can enjoy the cheery celebration of both. You’ll feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie as you watch the annual Gingerbread House contest, held only 10 miles from one of Utah’s biggest cities, Provo. According to locals, real snow blanketed the town for three weeks during the filming of A Christmas Wish (2011).
Recreate the sledding scene from Hallmark’s Christmas Cookies (2016) at Squamish’s Whistler Olympic Park. Drink in views of the snow-covered Callaghan Valley, then walk through the magical fir forest lit up with thousands of Christmas lights near the Sea to Sky Gondola. In town, take your pick of the Farmer’s Market, holiday train ride, or a performance of The Christmas Story at Eagle Eye Community Theatre.
Pioneer Village sets the scene for a Christmas tree farm love story in Christmas Land (2015). But interestingly enough, the town isn’t inhabited at all. The rustic little village was built in Lagoon Park, a privately owned amusement park in Farmington, Utah. To make the most of a Christmas getaway in Farmington, snuggle up by the outdoor fireplaces in Fountain Square before heading to Lagoon Park for heart-racing thrills, holiday entertainment, and a selfie in front of 1853-built Rock Chapel in Pioneer Village.
Cozy up in this former Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post. Fort Langley is a tiny 1800s-style hamlet brimming with tradition and holiday cheer. While not all of Christmas Homecoming (2017) was filmed in the village, you’ll feel like you’ve arrived on set while walking the lantern-lit streets. Don’t miss the nearby riverfront trails and local wineries while you celebrate!
Hope, British Columbia stands in for Brooklyn, Colorado in A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado. The Canadian town goes all for the holidays with lights along Wallace Street, a giant Christmas tree and a life-size Grinch chainsaw carving. This mountain town doesn't need Erin Chambers (Rochelle Aytes) to plan the town's Christmas festival—they're doing a stellar job already.
Hallmark Channel
