Thursday – after school – we grabbed cozy blankets, made cups of hot cocoa (coffee for me), and started to watch a new Hallmark movie. Colour me SHOCKED to discover it was set in Nova Scotia. And guess what famous landmark featured heavily in background shots throughout the film? Our beloved Peggy’s Cove!
Christmas Island is actually a place in Nova Scotia (part of Cape Breton), but in the movie it’s a composite town made up of shots of Peggy’s Cove and Lunenburg. All the airport scenes were filmed in August in the airport John uses as home base for all his work travel (too bad he wasn’t passing through the day of filming).
The movie is very predictable and featured fewer flowers and sunshine and more snow…but it was positively delightful to see local places on the “big screen.” So if you’re looking for a dose of Nova Scotia and some cameos from our most famous lighthouse, look no further than Christmas Island. (Bonus: if you happen to like lighthouses as much as I do, Hallmark has another movie all about lighthouses at Christmas called Navigating Christmas which we’ve also watched – and enjoyed – this year.)
And one more idea for any Hallmark lovers out there: while we watched the movie we played Hallmark Christmas Movie bingo (from here) which was SO. MUCH. FUN.
Your turn! Do you see your hometown/local area portrayed in the movies regularly? Have you ever been on a movie set or been an extra? Do you have a favourite Hallmark movie? (Stay tuned for Monday’s post when I’ll reveal my Top Five Favourite Christmas movies.)
Jenny
Ooh! The only way this could be more perfect is if John was actually in the background in one of the airport scenes. I have actually never seen a Hallmark Christmas movie! Every year I think this will be the year… so maybe this time I really will do it. I also have never seen White Christmas and I know I have to.
My only claim to fame is that the movie Risky Business (er, slightly different vibe from a Hallmark movie) was shot in the town where I grew up, and our house is in one of the scenes.
Looking forward to Monday’s post!
Elisabeth
I know – of all the time to be travelling, why couldn’t it have been then?!
White Christmas. You might love it. You might hate it. I think I love it because I’ve been watching it so long, but it is without a doubt my all-time favourite Christmas movie.
That is SO cool that your house featured in a movie; I remember you sharing that story before, but forgot the movie!
Nicole MacPherson
Ah, this is so fun, Elisabeth! You know, I love a movie where everything is going to work out great in the end. I can’t take the stress of a sad movie around the holidays!
Elisabeth
Agreed. Happy movies only at Christmas for me!
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie
Same as Jenny – I’ve never seen a Hallmark Christmas movie. But if the shooting location was my favorite lighthouse, then I’d drop everything to watch.
We don’t have a TON of movie locations around here, but we’ve got quality to make up for the lack of quantity. Shawshank Redemption is our biggest claim to fame – the prison, the town, and Malabar Farm (location of the cabin and the big tree) are within day trip distance of me.
Elisabeth
What? There are approximately 10 bajillion (that might be an underestimate). Though you’re not missing much. They are VERY formulaic, but I love that I know exactly what to expect. It’s comforting and very restful.
Shawshank Redemption is a BIG claim to fame. What an iconic movie.
Michelle
That sounds like a fun movie – I’ll try to look for it. I’d love to see some Nova Scotia scenery!
Elisabeth
The movie itself is “forgettable” – as are most Hallmark movies – but it was SO cool to see familiar sights on the big screen.
Sophie
That is so cool! And what a gorgeous spot to set a movie 🙂 I’ve also never seen a Hallmark movie, and when I googled where to find these in Australia- you can’t!!! Well, the Hallmark Channel isn’t available here, though there are random movies on different streaming services. Will have to watch one next time when I come across it.
Elisabeth
Hallmark used to produce just a handful of Christmas movies each season and now it’s something like 30-40?! This one just struck a different chord for our family since it was set locally <3
J
I love the pictures of your lighthouse (in my mind it’s Elisabeth’s lighthouse). I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Hallmark Christmas movie, but I’ve been trying to branch out beyond our standards this year. I’m sorry to say I haven’t loved any of the movies I’ve seen thus far. I tried playing the Hallmark Bingo mentally with our 2 standards, and they both definitely showed up, but no BINGO.
(Our standards, aka, the 2 movies we MUST watch, are It’s a Wonderful Life and Scrooged.)
Elisabeth
Aww. We kind of DO feel like it’s “our” lighthouse at this point.
I’ve never seen Scrooged! Is that the one with Bill Murray?
Coree
They filmed a Canadian Hallmark movie in our Scottish village last year. I was so confused by all the accents (close to my own but not quite, so it felt jarring) until I tried to go into the green grocer and it was closed for the filming.
Elisabeth
Ohhh. How fun! I’m so curious if you know the name of the Hallmark movie? I’d love to look it up. And TOO funny that you couldn’t go to the grocery store because they were filming there. Well, funny…but also disruptive and inconvenient for you, I’m sure!
Rachel
obviously I love this post. I couldn’t find that film m on Netflix unfortunately, but it looks perfect. Glad you got a Christmas movie in already. Also hallmark bingo is so funny!
Elisabeth
The kids had a hoot playing Hallmark Bingo (though they were very “generous” with what they allowed themselves to cross off in their race for BINGO).
Kate
That is super fun!! I’ll have to see if I can find it streaming somewhere. Literally yesterday I was googling “feel good Christmas movies”. I used to think my favourite Christmas movie was Love Actually … but the older I get, the more I CANNOT stand the infidelity part of the plot line. It ruins the whole thing for me.
Last night I watched Happiest Season on Hulu, which was cute (I would watch Dan Levy do just about anything – he’s so hilarious!) and about 20 minutes in, I thought, “That street looks so familiar” so I googled, and sure enough, it was filmed here in Pittsburgh!
On my to-watch list this year: White Christmas, for the very first time. (I know.) And then we always watch Home Alone, A Christmas Story, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Spirited is a lot of fun too!
Elisabeth
Yeah – I don’t watch Love Actually anymore. The whole plots stuff with Alan Rickman (and similar things with Keira Knightly) just do me in. (Love Colin Firth’s character, though).
I’ve never heard of Spirited – looks like it’s a new musical? And we still haven’t watched Jingle Jangle though I’ve heard great things!
Kyria @ Travel Spot
I also have never seen a Hallmark movie (I think?) but if your favorite town/lighthouse is featured, I am in. I just checked and YouTube TV has it! Get out the bingo; I am ready to play! Also, I am looking forward to your Christmas Movie list, but if Muppets Christmas Carol is not on it, I may have words with you.
Elisabeth
Yay! It’s nothing spectacular as movies go, but IT IS NOVA SCOTIA <3
Uh oh. I guess we will be having "words." Sigh.
Grateful Kae
Oh wow! I haven’t watched ANY Hallmark movies in entirety yet this season, but I have watched many, many partial movies. 🙂 I tend to turn them on in the kitchen when I’m puttering about, or in my room while I’m getting ready for bed in the bathroom, etc. I recorded one last week called something like A Biltmore Christmas, which I really really want to watch because we are going to Biltmore Estates in North Carolina during our spring break trip. I’ll keep my eye out for these that you mentioned!
Elisabeth
We’ve been texting about the Biltmore one. I LOVED it. One of my new favourite Hallmark movies and definitely my favourite of 2023.
San
Oh how wonderful. I love when I recognize places in movie scenes. Doesn’t happen too often though (unless they’re famous places that *everybody* has been to!). I’ve managed to watch one Christmas movie so far and I am looking to watch more…
Anne
OK, I’m a Christmas movie ignoramus. Seriously. No Hallmark movies, for sure. I’ve never seen Elf, the live Grinch, A Christmas Story, or Miracle on 34th St. I’ve also never seen your favorite, um, hang on, gotta scroll back up…right, White Christmas. My mom loves(d?) It’s a Wonderful Life, so I’ve seen that, but I’m kind of meh about it. That said, if I HAD Hallmark, I would definitely choose this one, if only to get a glimpse of your world. 🙂
Elisabeth
Oh wow. I am definitely a Christmas movie fan. I can’t imagine not watching holiday films every year!!