Photo via Petr Maur / Netflix
Christmas movies and Ontario go hand in hand. Our wonderful cities and towns often play backdrops for our favourite holiday movies.
Though some locations may be easy to recognize, others are a little harder to spot. But not to worry, I have put together a little list of some Christmas movies filmed in our Ontario cities and towns – including two new ones.
Follow the festive story of a widow named Kathy, who magically brings a handsome snowman to life two years after losing her husband.
It’s giving 1998 holiday movie Jack Frost vibes.
Hot Frosty was filmed in and around Brockville and Ottawa. It’s a recent addition to the Netflix holiday lineup.
“In pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold-out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert,” shares Netflix.
The festive movie starring Christina Millian is easily a new holiday classic. It was shot in Toronto.
Though not a movie, the holiday showdown competition Blown Away brings back five fan favourites to compete in a series of Christmas-themed challenges. The winner not only receives a $10,000 cash prize, but an extra $10,000 will also be donated to their charity of choice.
Blown Away: Christmas was filmed in Hamilton.
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were played by none other than Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn! The Christmas Chronicles 1 & 2 are a must-watch for the holidays.
Though most of it was filmed on the West Coast, Toronto saw a few scenes shot here.
See if you can spot Leslieville, St. James Cathedral, St James Gate and Windsor Arms.
This flick stars Lori Loughlin who plays a woman named Kelly. Unfortunately, Kelly has to work next to her nemesis Brooks, her brother’s high school best friend who now owns half of Kelly’s family-owned candy shop.
Keep an eye out in the background – you may catch some North Bay, Ontario, scenery!
Almonte, Ontario is possibly one of the most popular filming hubs for Christmas movies in the province.
The town’s website shares a long list of Hallmark holiday movies that were filmed using the town as its backdrop.
Designing Christmas is just one of many filmed in this small town.
Grab some hot chocolate and cozy up – we have another holiday movie filmed in good ol’ North Bay.
The Great Christmas Switch is also out so you can watch it before Christmas this year.
This flick is about Sophia, a single girl in the city with a demanding boss, and a single mother of two in the Midwest who decides to switch places for Christmas in an effort to get away from their problems for a little while.
Here’s another thrilling holiday flick filmed in Almonte.
It’s a Hallmark movie about a “successful New York City book editor who is losing touch with her passion after a few setbacks this year, and learns she was chosen to run a bookstore in the small town of Saint Ives for the month of December.” Cue in the disgruntled employee, enemies turned to lovers arc.
Total main character moment going on here but we love these kinds of movies. And clearly they love our province back.
According to Destination Northern Ontario, the historic Capitol Centre, North Bay’s performance centre for arts and entertainment, was used in A Veteran’s Christmas.
This movie was filmed in North Bay and Huntsville.
“A man finds himself hopelessly stranded in a small town on Christmas Eve, unable to shake the stray dog who ran him off the road, and irresistibly drawn to the free-spirited, local veterinarian,” shares the official IMDB page.
It has all the elements that make a Christmas movie irresistible – love, small towns and pets.
Almonte is the backdrop of this movie.
Filmed at multiple locations in North Bay including a series of colourful downtown buildings, the North Bay Museum and the back half of the Pro-Cathedral building, dubbed The Bishop’s Palace.
And there you have it! Which Christmas movie will you be watching this holiday season?
All of them? Let’s be real, me too!
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