Images via That’s 4 Entertainment

Christmas Con has spread holiday cheer to both the West Coast and the East Coast for the past few years, but in 2023… there’s no place like Christmas in the Midwest! That’s 4 Entertainment has announced that they will bring their beloved holiday convention filled with festive vendors, audience-engaging seasonal games and the opportunity to see your favorite Christmas movie stars up close when Christmas Con comes to Kansas in June—hosted by Jonathan Bennett!

The event will run from June 9-11 at Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park—just minutes from the heart of Kansas City! Tickets are currently on sale at Thats4Entertainment.com.

Check out the full list of celebrity guests who are currently scheduled to attend the Kansas event!*

Toubia and Lopez wrapping production. (Photo via @emeraude on IG)

Mario Lopez has been spending the past few weeks in Santa Fe, New Mexico as he films his brand new Lifetime Christmas movie with co-star Emeraude Toubia. The two will star in “Holiday in Santa Fe,“ which is set to premiere during the annual It’s A Wonderful Lifetime event later this year.

In the movie, sparks fly when a greeting card executive arrives in Santa Fe to acquire a tight-knit family company that creates ornaments inspired by Mexican Christmas traditions. Mario stars as Tony Ortega and Emeraude plays Belinda Sawyer.

Photo: Hallmark

It’s finally here! Hallmark revealed the annual Dream Book this week filled with our first look at the upcoming Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments for the holiday season. Not only can you pick up a copy at your local Hallmark Gold Crown store, but you can also view the digital Dream Book online at Hallmark.com where you can create, download and print your wish list. You can even win a chance to receive your entire wish list as a giveaway – deadline to submit is May 15th.

Additionally, you can purchase the 2021 Keepsake Ornament Club Membership (limit one membership per order) and receive the Keepsake Dream Box (a $75 value) with two full size club-exclusive Keepsake Ornaments, exclusive gifts from the Keepsake Studio, and a copy of the Dream Book. Check that out here!

Stay merry!

Hudon and Lund in a scene from BABY, IT’S COLD INSIDE. Photo: Crown Media

A wintry movie premiere in the middle of spring? Sounds good to me!

Hallmark Channel is bouncing from spring to summer by making a return to winter next month with the premiere of “Baby, It’s Cold Inside”. The film, which stars Jocelyn Hudon (From Friend to Fiancé, When Hope Calls) and Steve Lund (The Christmas Cottage, Christmas Inc, Best Christmas Party Ever, The Art of Us, Unlocking Christmas), is set to air on Saturday, May 8th at 9pm/8c.

CHRISTMAS AT DOLLYWOOD (left) / CHRISTMAS IN EVERGREEN: BELLS ARE RINGING (right) | Photos: Crown Media

There are several Hallmark Christmas movies from recent years past that have made their way to DVD, and I try to share the latest releases whenever possible.  Quite a few that debuted on the network between 2017-2020 started releasing on DVD between October and December, with a few on their way in June. Check out the list of movies below and see which ones you need to add to your movie collection right away!

We may get ’round-the-clock holiday films at the end of the year, but it’s never too early to enjoy your festive favorites. Which ones are you most excited about?!

He is Risen! HappyEaster!

Sending you warm wishes for a beautiful Easter Sunday!

I hope you and your loved ones, however you can gather, have a blessed holiday. 🐰🐣

Stay merry!

Photos: Crown Media

The 4th Annual Hallmark Channel Merry Madness Christmas Bracket has officially come to a close, and the winning movie has been announced… click ‘Continue Reading’ to find out who took the top spot this year!

Logo via Netflix

Here’s a little movie update news for everyone who remembers when Deadline exclusively reported last October that Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) would be starring in David E. Talbert‘s new holiday film for Netflix.

The musical movie, “Jingle Jangle” follows Jeronicus Jangle (Whitaker), a once-great inventor and toy maker who has lost his belief in himself and his inventions, but stumbles upon a second chance and a magical invention, when his granddaughter comes to town for the holidays. If he can get the thing to work in time for the holidays, it will change their lives forever.

It’s been the plan for months to begin filming this year with a Netflix 2020 premiere date in mind, but now the Talbert written-and-directed film has added a slew of talented actors to the cast list!

Yesterday afternoon Netflix’s Strong Black Lead Twitter account announced that Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show, Creed, This Is Us), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele, Toy Story 4, The Lion King), Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog, Dreamgirls), and Madalen Mills (Broadway’s School of Rock: The Musical), who will star as Whitaker’s granddaughter, have joined the film.

Update 07/11/19: As of now, Hugh Bonneville has also signed onto the film!

“Jingle Jangle” will be produced by Mike Jackson, John Legend, David E. Talbert, Lyn Sisson-Talbert, and David McIlvain with Ty Stiklorius stepped in as executive producer.

Stay merry!

As of today, we are 64 days away from our Christmas in July celebration, 186 days until Halloween and ONLY 241 days until Christmas.  Now I am starting to feel like we’re getting closer to the most wonderful time of the year.

With Easter behind us, we are done with “gift holidays” until the fall.  I have been asking and observing how lovers of the Christmas season have been “feeling Christmas” in the springtime…

Recently, I delivered some gourmet cookies to a friend and she (also a lover of Christmas) had her life-size Santa in her dining room but it was very festive since Santa was wearing “bunny ears”.   Another friend was sharing the Christmas spirit by placing ONLY the green and red jelly beans in candy bowls for visitors; she also left out a carrot & carrot juice for the Easter Bunny!  Traditionally, my family goes out to eat for Easter, but I still make a festive dinner after the holiday; I made a spiral honey ham, macaroni & cheese, fresh string beans and candied sweet potatoes…  it smelled of Christmas all day!  Cooking foods with cinnamon, nutmeg and other holiday seasonings will definitely have you thinking about the most wonderful time of the year.  In fact, a neighbor of mine made these decorative Easter baskets that were loaded with Starlight Mints, Candy Canes, Hot Cocoa, and Christmas DVD’s.  I would even add a CD, like my favorite, The Michael Buble Christmas album.