Holiday landmarks Your guide to Hallmark Christmas movie locations in and around Winnipeg By: Jen Zoratti Posted: 4:14 PM CST Friday, Nov. 29, 2024

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/11/2024 (694 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Every year — often in the punishing heat of July — buildings and businesses in Winnipeg (and around Manitoba) are transformed into sparkly holiday villages where the women are from the big city, the men are their small-town sweethearts, there’s a big pageant to save or a mystery to solve, and everything smells like balsam and freshly baked gingerbread — or at least looks as if it does.

Here’s a rundown of five 2024 Hallmark Christmas Movies shot in Winnipeg so you can engage in one of our official civic pastimes: pointing out places we recognize in Hallmark Christmas Movies. (Thanks to Manitoba Film & Music for helping us suss out the spots.)

Note: two of these titles will première on W Network later in December; the rest can be streamed via StackTV.

A CAROL FOR TWO

Starring Winnipeg as… New York City.

Our girl Violette Wagner (Ginna Claire Mason) has moved to the big city with designs on making it on Broadway, and gets hired at Fiore’s — a legendary (a.k.a. tourist-trap) diner boasting everyone’s favourite feature at a dining establishment: singing waitstaff.

But hark! What yonder gig awaits? Violette lands a coveted slot during the annual Christmas Eve concert — score! — but she’s been paired up with Alex (Jordan Litz) — boo — who thinks she only got the job (which, again, is at a diner) because she’s a nepo baby.

Then, Alex sets Violette up with his cousin Brad (Gino Anania) — but ends catches feelings himself. More like a Carol for Three, methinks.

Locations, locations, locations: Fiore’s is a composite of two locations: Rudy’s Eat & Drink as the interior and 90 Albert St. as the exterior. Other shooting locations include the Burton Cummings Theatre and various spots in the Exchange District.

 

CHRISTMAS ON CALL

Starring Winnipeg as… Philadelphia.

Let’s get this out of the way: yes, this is the Winnipeg-shot Hallmark movie featuring a cameo by Donna Kelce or, as Swifties know her, Mr. Taylor Swift’s mom.

Just before Christmas, Dr. Hannah Michaels (Sara Canning) accepts a new job in a Philadelphia emergency room where she falls for EMT Wes Sullivan (Ser’Darius Blain).

He shows her around town as they, per the official Hallmark logline, “balance duty with holiday celebrations.” We know they are in Philly because Donna Kelce serves them cheesesteaks wearing an Eagles jersey.

Locations, locations, locations:

• 55 Princess St. (exterior, as the station house);
• Shawarma Khan (interior and exterior as Cheesesteak Joint);
• 90 Albert St. (exterior as the community centre) ;
• Manitoba Museum (interior and exterior as the police station);
• Pan Am Boxing (exterior as Rocky Gloves);
• 52 Albert St. (interior and exterior as Hannah’s apartment);
• ArtSpace Dray Way (exterior as the light tunnel);
• Canadian Mennonite University (exterior as the hospital courtyard, interior as the elementary school);
• Old Market Square/Bijou Park (exterior as the holiday street market);
• 231 McDermot Ave. (interior and exterior as Philly’s historic Wanamaker Building).

FIVE GOLD RINGS

Starring Winnipeg as… Cold Spring, Minn.

New York City painter Audrey Moss (Holland Roden) returns to small-town Minnesota to find that her dear late grandmother has left her an impossible to-do: reunite five mysterious gold rings with their owners before Christmas morning — which, of course, is nine days away.

Audrey is also to team up with local private investigator Finn O’Sullivan (Nolan Gerard Funk), who just happens to be Audrey’s childhood friend. (We see what you’re up to, Grandma.)

Love a seasonal mystery, but look: women already have to do everything during the holidays — now we have to take on tasks from beyond the grave? Girl! Just say no!

Locations, locations, locations:

• The Old House Revival Co. & Antique Mall;
• City Hall;
• various Exchange District locations.

FOLLOWING YONDER STAR

Starring Winnipeg as… Vermont.
(Premières Sunday, Dec. 15)

Television star Abby Marshall (Brooke D’Orsay) retreats to a luxury Vermont resort to ride out a scandal only to find that there’s no room at the bougie inn.

All the rooms have been booked by people hoping to catch a glimpse of a rare astrological event: the bright star said to resemble the Star of Bethlehem set to appear on Christmas Eve.

Thankfully, Abby meets Tom (John Brotherton), a widowed astronomy teacher (wow, we’re really going yonder with the star theme) who also runs a B&B and directs the Christmas pageant, which, of course, Abby offers to help with.

Locations, locations, locations:

• Prota Clinic, 930 Lorimer Blvd. (interior as the Vermont five-star resort);
• Broadway First Baptist Church (interior and exterior as the church);
• Pineridge Hollow (as multiple exteriors and interiors);
• Hildegard’s Bakery at Pineridge Hollow (interior and exterior as Hildegard’s Bakery, aw);
• Hawthorne Estate, East Selkirk (as multiple interiors and exteriors, including the Ranch for Wayward Girls — which, I’m sorry, the what for who?).

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HANUKKAH ON THE ROCKS

Starring Winnipeg as… Chicago.
(Premières Friday, Dec. 13)

It’s not shaping up to be a great Hanukkah for Tory (Stacey Farber). Burned out and questioning her career choices, she’s no longer a corporate lawyer and is hiding that fact from her Bubby (Winnipeg actor Marina Stephenson Kerr), whom she’s helping get ready for the holiday.

But when she and Jay (Daren Kagasoff), a doctor from Florida, have a meet-cute fighting over the last box of the good Hanukkah candles in Chicago and end up back at his regular watering hole, Rocky’s, her whole life changes.

Tory ends up putting on Hanukkah on the Rocks — an eight-night rager that revives Rocky’s and brings the whole community together, because you simply cannot have a Hallmark holiday movie without an elaborate event at the heart of it.

Locations, locations, locations: Wee Johnny’s Pub in the East Exchange is Rocky’s, but it might be more accurate to say that Niverville has the starring role of Chicago, since a lot of the non-bar scenes were filmed there.

 

jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com