Enquirer archives: Cincinnati’s Christmas traditions make memories
Christmas is a time for making memories, from the Fountain Square tree lighting to the beloved holiday trains.
Jeff Suess, Cincinnati Enquirer
Did you know the unofficial queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, made her film directorial debut and starred in a Hallmark Christmas movie that was filmed in Greater Cincinnati?
Scenes from the 2015 movie “A Christmas Melody,” which also starred Lacey Chabert, were shot in Hyde Park Square, cementing Cincinnati as a Christmas destination for Hallmark movie lovers.
As the holiday season quickly approaches, U.S. News & World Report’s experts created a guide of the 14 Hallmark Christmas movie towns people can visit in real life, and Cincinnati made the list.
What makes Cincinnati a Hallmark Christmas movie destination?
Greater Cincinnati was featured on the U.S. News & World Report guide for several winter wonderland activities in and around the city, including the PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Kings Island’s WinterFest and the Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland event at Newport Aquarium.
The list highlighted more events just over the Kentucky border, such as the MainStrasse Christkindlmarkt, an event inspired by European Christmas markets. The Lytle Park Hotel, 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati and Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza were also mentioned in the list as hotels that “turn up the Christmas vibes.”
Other top Hallmark Christmas movie towns
Here are the other 13 locations named among the top Hallmark Christmas movie destinations you can visit this winter.
- Chester, Vermont: “Moonlight & Mistletoe” (2008).
- Nevada City, California: “The Christmas Card” (2006).
- Richmond, British Columbia: “Hope at Christmas” (2018).
- LaGrange, Georgia: “A Perfect Christmas Pairing” (2023).
- Kansas City, Missouri: “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” (2024).
- Collierville, Tennessee: “Wedding at Graceland” (2019).
- Calgary, Alberta: “Meet Me at Christmas” (2020).
- Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: “Christmas at Dollywood” (2019).
- Squamish, British Columbia: “Christmas Cookies” (2016).
- Farmington, Utah: “Christmas Land” (2015).
- Vail, Colorado: “Winter in Vail” (2020).
- Vancouver, British Columbia: “The Christmas Secret” (2014).
- Salt Lake City, Utah: “Christmas Under Wraps” (2014).
What is ‘A Christmas Melody’ about?
The holiday film revolves around Kristin (Lacey Chabert), a “beautiful, stylish divorcee who is a talented clothing designer,” and her daughter, according to the movie description on Hallmark’s website. However, she moves back to her Ohio hometown to live in her parents’ former home when she runs into her former high school rival played by Mariah Carey.
Carey plays the president of the PTA and tries to make Kristen feel as unwelcome as possible. But with a little holiday magic and music, Kristin and her daughter find that “home is where the heart is.”