Craving a dose of holiday cheer? Hallmark movie fans are packing their bags and heading straight to the charming filming locations of Connecticut! These aren't just any movies; they're the sweet, predictable stories we all secretly love, like 'Christmas at Pemberly Manor' and 'Romance at Reindeer Lodge.' This season, the real-life towns where these feel-good flicks come to life are becoming must-visit destinations.
Connecticut, the backdrop for at least 22 holiday films by Hallmark, Lifetime, and others, is cashing in on the trend. They're promoting tours that whisk visitors through quaint, Christmas-card-worthy towns, the very places where a high-powered lawyer might reconnect with their high school sweetheart who now runs a Christmas tree farm. (Spoiler alert: a happily ever after is practically guaranteed!).
Abby Rumfelt from North Carolina, fresh off a coach bus in Wethersfield, Connecticut, gushed about the experience. She was one of 53 people on a 'Hallmark Movie Christmas Tour' organized by Mayfield Tours. The tour, planned using the 'Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail' map, which the state launched last year to capitalize on the growing Christmas-movie craze, included hotel stays, meals, and even a trip to see the Rockettes in New York City. The first tour sold out in just two weeks!
Imagine the scene: snow flurries, Christmas carols, and a lunch stop at Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre, where scenes from 'Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane' and 'Rediscovering Christmas' were filmed. This historic district, with its charming 1700s and 1800s buildings, is the perfect setting for a holiday movie. Even the local country store sells T-shirts proudly proclaiming, 'I Live in a Christmas Movie. Wethersfield, CT 06109.'
Julia Koulouris, co-owner of Heirloom Market, credits the movie trail for boosting their visibility. She notes how much the town is being tagged on Instagram. The concept of holiday movies dates back to the 1940s, with classics like 'It's A Wonderful Life.' But it was in 2006, five years after the launch of the Hallmark Channel, that Hallmark 'struck gold' with 'The Christmas Card,' according to Joanna Wilson, author of 'Tis the Season TV.'
But here's where it gets controversial... The holiday movie industry is estimated to generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and has expanded beyond Hallmark and Lifetime. Today, around 100 new films are released each year across various networks and streaming platforms. The genre is also becoming more diverse, with characters from a wider range of backgrounds and LGBTQ+ storylines.
The formula, however, remains the same: a G-rated love story. As Wilson explains, "They want to see people coming together. They want to see these romances. It’s a part of the hope of the season.”
Hazel Duncan, 83, and her husband of 65 years, Owen, love watching these movies year-round for their sweetness and family-friendly nature. It brings them back to simpler times.
Connecticut's chief marketing officer, Anthony M. Anthony, sees the Christmas Movie Trail as part of a larger effort to promote the state. He hopes to highlight the communities as places to call home.
And this is the part most people miss... There's an ongoing debate at the state Capitol about film industry tax credits, which could impact future movie productions in the state.
Christina Nieves and her husband are exploring the trail, discovering new places like the Bushnell Park Carousel in Hartford, featured in 'Ghost of Christmas Always.' It even inspired her to convince her husband to join her at a tree-lighting and Christmas parade.
So, what do you think? Are you a fan of these heartwarming holiday movies? Have you ever visited a filming location? Do you think the formula is getting stale, or is there always room for a good, predictable love story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
