10 Ways to Channel Your Hallmark Obsession During the Holidays

Christmas time is pretty much synonymous with Hallmark, and we’re totally obsessed. With everything from a convention to charming downtowns to merch, there are so many ways to satisfy your Hallmark holiday obsession here in NJ. Here’s our list for all you fans:

1. Get tickets to Chrismas Con – stat! The New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Edison becomes a winter wonderland every December, welcoming dozens of Christmas movie actors from Hallmark (and also Great American Family and Lifetime) for you to meet, take selfies and share your movie memories. It’s become an annual tradition that includes panels with the actors, behind-the-scenes looks at movies, exclusive screenings, a Christmas tree lighting, a huge marketplace and holiday crafts. The Weekend and VIP passes are sold out, but you can still get single-day passes for December 13-15.

   

2. Visit a Hallmark-inspired New Jersey town. Places like Westfield, Princeton, Cape May, Cranford and Madison have beautiful architecture and walkable downtowns filled with cafés, restaurants and shops.

   

3. Catch Countdown to Christmas on the Hallmark Channel. If you missed Christmas in July, all-new Christmas movies start airing this month. We can’t wait for this year’s The Groomsmen series, Jingle Bell Run and Holiday Touchdown.

   

4. Get dressed up. Get some Hallmark Channel-inspired merch like blankets, slippers, Bingo boards and popcorn bowls. PJs and throws (plus a Hallmark mug filled with hot chocolate) are all you need for a cozy movie night in. Check out Dressing Festive, whose owner Jenny creates tees with famous quotes from Hallmark movies and slogans like, “Dear Santa, All I Want For Christmas is a Hallmark Hunk.” (Side note: she sells her products during Christmas Con.)

   

5. Join Tyler Hynes’s Boot Shot Tradition. Tyler is known for his love of whiskey, so he came up with a boot-shaped shot glass that he sells in a four-pack so you can share it with three loved ones. During the Christmas season, he’ll jump on Instagram Live to chat with fans, and everyone takes a shot together. It’s become a tradition during his meet-and-greets, too.
6. Raise the Reel. Jen Lilley co-founded Christmas is Not Cancelled during the pandemic to make sure kids in need were able to celebrate; it involved Instagram Lives, virtual celebrity games and toy donation drives. Although this month she announced its closure, she instead is working on Raise the Reel, a crowdfunding platform that helps directors fund their movies while giving you a chance to have a walk-on role in the movies you love.
7. And raise a glass. Hallmark Channel has its own label of wines, ranging from Jingle cabernet sauvignon to Christmas at Graceland Elvis zinfandel to Joy sauvignon blanc to Sparkle sparkling wine. You know the mug we mentioned earlier? No one will know if it’s filled with vino.
8. Trim your tree. Decorate your tree with Hallmark’s Keepsake Ornaments. Did you know Hallmark offers an ornament club that previews its stock every summer? The collection includes movie characters, sci-fi scenes, gaming items, and beloved classics.
9. Get write to it. Hallmark has the best selection of greeting cards for handwritten holiday notes. A text on Christmas morning just doesn’t have the same feel.
10. Plan a Hallmark vacation. Several stars were in NYC recently for the Hallmark Jingle Stop Tour, which came to Hudson Yards, as well as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The stars were prepping for Experience Hallmark Christmas, taking place on weekends from November 29 to December 22 at Hallmark’s HQ in Kansas City, where there will be a festive square with more meet-and-greets, vendor shopping, Christmas activities and movie magic.

Here’s a look at 2023’s Christmas Con fan convention.

Get the latest on the best things to do with your family in and around New Jersey by signing up for our newsletter and following us on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!

Read More:
Get Your Tickets to Christmas Con 2024 Before They Sell Out
This NJ Winter Wonderland is Tucked Away at a Christmas Tree Farm
PNC Bank’s Magic of Lights Returns to NJ
Halloween and Christmas Come Together at This Spooky Light Show in NY
Head to Brooklyn to Walk Through a Mile of Musical Holiday Lights
This Central Jersey Mall Will Become an ‘Alice in Wonderland’-Themed Holiday Lights Festival Grounds