‘Hope at Christmas’ is a delightful Hallmark Christmas movie. It is based on Nancy Naigle’s book. The film was produced in 2018 and tells a wonderful story. Sydney Ragsdale is the central character. She is newly divorced with an 8-year-old daughter. Sydney returns to her hometown to celebrate Christmas at the house she received from her grandmother. She aspires to find serenity and start over. Sydney visits a bookstore that she used to enjoy as a child. There, she meets Mac, a lovely schoolteacher who is also widowed.
Initially, Sydney and Mac are cautious and apprehensive. However, they quickly grow essential to one another. Mac helps Sydney discover joy and warmth in her neighborhood. He also helps her experience the enchantment of the holidays. Mac also recovers from his past. The film is directed by Alex Wright. The vacation environment in the film brings Sydney and Mac closer together. The movie’s locations are extremely essential. They contribute to the love tale of Sydney and Mac and their second chance at happiness.
Where was “Hope at Christmas” Filmed?
‘Hope at Christmas’ was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. The main filming started on September 4, 2018. After three weeks, filming finished on September 24. The location management team included David S. Fullerton, Daniel Robichaud, and Kerry Pearson. They searched a lot to find the perfect places to match the story.
Vancouver, British Columbia
The movie was filmed in many areas around the Metro Vancouver Regional District. Richmond, a city near Vancouver in the Lower Mainland, was the main filming site. The neighborhood of Steveston on Lulu Island was used for the important Christmas tree decoration competition scene. Production designer Rosaura Lezama made sure these festive scenes influenced the main characters’ motivations. Set decorator Bonnie Smith honored the book’s author, Nancy Naigle, by putting her name on top of an all-book Christmas tree.
The natural surroundings, national parks, and lakes on the mountainous island made the movie more than just a romance. Sydney and Mac face unexpected scenarios as they solve the central mystery, which is a sign from the universe. More iconic sites they visit include the Brandywine Falls Provincial Park in Whistler, near Squamish-Lillooet. The production team researched the province thoroughly and adapted the characters’ journey to the real world.
More Filming Locations
Sydney and Mac explore many beautiful landscapes in the province. They visit Joffre Lakes Provincial Park on Duffey Lake Road, Mount Currie, and the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge at 3663 Park Road in North Vancouver. The production team also used Langley, another place in Greater Vancouver, and Big Cedar & Kennedy Falls for filming. In a special featurette, actor Ryan Paevey talked about how the story in ‘Hope at Christmas’ is similar to his life growing up in California. He mentioned how tourists would stop to watch the filming.
Many Hallmark movies are filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. The city’s snowy scenery is perfect for holiday films, making it a popular choice. Notable movies filmed there include Holiday Date, Valentine in the Vineyard, and Christmas Getaway.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Hope at Christmas
Q: Where was ‘Hope at Christmas’ filmed?
A: ‘Hope at Christmas’ was filmed in various locations around Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The main filming sites included Richmond, particularly the neighborhood of Steveston on Lulu Island. Other filming locations included Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, Mount Currie, Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, Langley, and Big Cedar & Kennedy Falls.
Q: When was ‘Hope at Christmas’ filmed?
A: The filming of ‘Hope at Christmas’ began on September 4, 2018. The production team worked for three weeks and wrapped up the filming on September 24, 2018.
Q: When was ‘Hope at Christmas’ released?
A: ‘Hope at Christmas’ premiered on the Hallmark Channel on November 20, 2018.
Q: What are the main filming locations in Vancouver?
A: In Vancouver, the main filming locations included the city of Richmond, especially the Steveston neighborhood on Lulu Island, and other picturesque sites like Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, Mount Currie, Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, Langley, and Big Cedar & Kennedy Falls.
Q: How did the filming locations enhance the movie’s story?
A: The magnificent and festive locations in Vancouver enhanced the film’s fantastic holiday vibe. Steveston served as a wonderful setting for critical scenes, such as the Christmas tree decoration competition. Natural landscapes such as Brandywine Falls and Joffre Lakes gave an element of adventure and beauty to the plot, making the protagonists’ trip more interesting and visually appealing.
