This Hallmark Christmas Movie Set Is a Historic Village You Can Visit In Real Life
Ashley Williams, Holly Robinson Peete, and more return for the sequel to Hallmark's Christmas in Evergreen this weekend (November 18, 7 p.m. CT.), alongside newcomers Jill Wagner and Mark Deklin. But as Holly tells CountryLiving.com, the real star of Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa is the idyllic village depicted in the films: Evergreen, Vermont.
"The town of Evergreen is the star, and we're all co-stars," she told us during our behind-the-scenes set visit. "That's what's so fun and magical-that this mythical place has struck a chord in the hearts of so many Hallmark Channel fans."
The snow-covered setting seems straight out of a postcard-because it is. Illustrations created by Hallmark Cards' own Senior Illustrator Geoff Greenleaf created the series of works that inspired the movies.
Though there's no such place in Vermont, the Hallmark Christmas movie was filmed in a historic hamlet that you can visit in real life, just as we did during the making of the movie: Burnaby Village Museum in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Built in 1971 to reflect the early history of the Canadian province, the heritage village includes a bakery, bank, general store, blacksmith shop, log cabin, church, and more-all of which look like buildings from the '20s that have been frozen in time.
Though it was September at the time of filming, it was December in Burnaby Village. Storefronts were festooned in garland and lights, and the displays inside the bakery, which became Chris Kringle Kitchen, overflowed with sugar cookies in the shape of snowflakes and trees.
Much like in Evergreen, holidays are a big deal in Burnaby Village: The village's Heritage Christmas runs from November 24-December 14 and December 15-January 4. There's even a restored 1912 C.W. Parker Carousel and a restored Interurban tram from the '50s on site.
Burnaby Village Museum is open seasonally to visitors, including for spring break and all of summer. During Halloween, it becomes a "Haunted Village" that children and adults can tour for a small ticket price.
Throughout shooting, crew members kept the illusion alive by unloading anywhere from 14 to 28 tons of snow (which was actually fresh, food-grade shaved ice, like that used in fish markets) every day.
Meanwhile, good-natured cast members attempted to keep cool despite being dressed in heavy sweaters and jackets in 80-degree weather.
"I love working on this set, and it's really great to be back," Ashley told us during our sit-down, adding that she usually walks away with a great winter coat and plenty of baked goods-two perks pretty unique to working on a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Her character, the lead in the last movie, is back for a cameo in the second. "Her Christmas happens to overlap with the main plot of this movie," she explains. "She ends up being sort of instrumental, in a sly way, to the outcome."
Tune in November 18, 7 p.m. CT. for the premiere on Hallmark Channel.
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