Movies

These New England towns are straight out of a holiday movie

The camera crews may be gone, but these destinations are still worth a visit this holiday season.

A Newport Christmas
A scene from "A Newport Christmas," filmed in Newport. ©2025 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Robert Clark

By Kristi Palma

2 minutes to read

This year’s holiday movie “A Newport Christmas” was filmed in Newport. It’s not the first holiday movie filmed in New England — and it likely won’t be the last.

New England is the perfect region for capturing holiday spirit, according to John Stimpson of H9 Films in Worcester, who directed several holiday films over the years such as “Christmas on Ice,” Christmas a la Mode,” and “The Spruces and the Pines.”

“The authenticity of New England is what has made our movies successful,” Stimpson said. “It’s quintessential Christmas … the architecture, the feel of the smaller towns, the gazebos, the Christmas tree farms. You don’t have to fake it. It’s the real deal.”

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Here are 17 holiday movies that used New England as a scenic backdrop. (Know of more? Let us know in the comments below.)

“A Newport Christmas” (2025): Newport, R.I.

A Newport Christmas
A scene from “A Newport Christmas.” – ©2025 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Robert Clark

‘A Very Vermont Christmas‘ (2024): Princeton, Holden, and Sterling in Mass.

A scene from “A Very Vermont Christmas.”

‘The Holdovers‘ (2023): Berlin, Boston, Buckland, Cambridge, Clinton, Deerfield, Fairhaven, Gill, Gloucester, Groton, Medfield, Milton, New Bedford, Saugus, Shelburne Falls, Somerville, Southborough, Wakefield, Waltham, Worcester, all in Mass.

Dominic Sessa and Paul Giamatti in "The Holdovers."
Dominic Sessa and Paul Giamatti in “The Holdovers.” – Focus Features

‘Spirited‘ (2022): Boston, Braintree, Devens, Everett, Framingham, Lynnfield, Melrose, Weymouth, and Worcester, all in Mass.

Boston’s Devonshire Street with fictional Wickfield Plaza Hotel sign featured in the Apple TV film “Spirited.” Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff – Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

‘A Show-Stopping Christmas‘ (2022): Norwood, Mass.

The Norwood Theatre, featured in the film “A Show-Stopping Christmas.”

‘A Cape Cod Christmas‘ (2021): Falmouth, Mass.

A scene from “A Cape Cod Christmas,” filmed in Falmouth. – H9 Films

‘Christmas on Ice‘ (2020): Worcester, Mass.

“Christmas on Ice” was filmed in Worcester. – H9 Films LLC

‘Rediscovering Christmas‘ (2019): Old Wethersfield and Hartford, in Conn.

Pratt Street in downtown Hartford, where scenes for “Rediscovering Christmas were filmed. – Connecticut Office of Tourism

‘Christmas a la Mode‘ (2019): Worcester, Sutton, Auburn, and Boxborough, all in Mass.

The fictional White’s Ice Cream created for “Christmas a la Mode” at Whitter Farms in Sutton. – H9 Films LLC

‘Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane‘ (2018): Wethersfield, Conn.

Silas W. Robbins House bed & breakfast in Wethersfield, Conn., featured in “Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane.” – Courtesy Connecticut Office of Tourism

‘A Snow White Christmas‘ (2018): Shirley, Ayer, Bolton, Groton, Sudbury, all in Mass.

The outside of Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, a town featured in “A Snow White Christmas.”

‘Buttons, A New Musical Film‘ (2018): Lowell, Mass. and Portland, Kennebunkport, and York, all in Maine

A room decorated for Christmas at Victoria Mansion in Portland, Maine. The mansion was featured in “Buttons, A New Musical Film.” – Cortney Vamvakias

‘Christmas at Pemberley Manor‘ (2018): Essex and Old Lyme, in Conn.

The Griswold Inn in Essex, Conn., featured in “Christmas at Pemberley Manor.” – Connecticut Office of Tourism

‘The Spruces and the Pines‘ (2017): Ayer, Bolton, Stow, and Townsend, all in Mass.

A scene from the movie “The Spruces and the Pines” at Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton. – H9 Films LLC

‘The March Sisters at Christmas‘ (2012): Grafton and Worcester, in Mass.

A scene from “The March Sisters at Christmas” in downtown Grafton. – H9 Films LLC

‘Saving Christmas‘ (2017): West Warwick and Cranston, in R.I.

Joy Homestead in Cranston, a town featured in “Saving Christmas.”

‘12 dogs of Christmas‘ (2005): Bethel and Portland, in Maine.

A sleigh ride in Bethel, Maine, a town featured in “12 dogs of Christmas.” – Maine Office of Tourism
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Kristi Palma

Travel writer

 

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

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