Hallmark transforms downtown Stratford into Christmas movie set

Christmas in September? Downtown Stratford’s Market Square and surrounding businesses were transformed into a Hallmark movie set for Pining for Douglas, filmed from Sept. 10 to 12.

Downtown Stratford was a winter wonderland for a few days — or as much as it could be in September weather.

Market Square and the surrounding buildings on Wellington Street were decked out with tinsel, fake snow and other decorations from Sept. 10 to 12 for the filming of the Hallmark Christmas movie Pining for Douglas.

The film takes place in a small town called Douglas, where the community tries to save its beloved tree at risk of being removed. It also features the kind of Christmas love story the Hallmark channel is known for.

“It's been a real pleasure,” said Pining for Douglas director Leif Bristow. “The city, the mayor's office, they've been great help. The merchants have been all really supportive. It's really nice and we’re getting great weather for it. It's a little warm for filming Christmas in September but we're making it work."

Bristow said the textures of Wellington Street’s brick-and-mortar shops and their charm made the area ideal for filming. Market Square was set up like a traditional Christmas market. The movie will also be filmed in Ancaster and Hamilton.

“We want Douglas to feel like it's a smaller community,” Bristow said of filming in Stratford. “We want that strength and heart of community that you get in the smaller communities, and the downtown area of Stratford is obviously stunning."

Jamie Pritchard, general manager of the Downtown Stratford BIA, is also thrilled about the opportunity to have a movie filmed in the city’s core.

"I'm happy to have the crew here and we'd love to see more of these kinds of productions in downtown,” Pritchard said. “They do bring a couple hundred people here that contributes to our economy — the restaurants, the hotels. I mean, it's definitely a plus for the businesses downtown. They've used some things like local restaurants for coffees and things like that, so it's been wonderful."

The City of Stratford announced temporary road closures on Market Place from Wellington to Downie streets from Sept. 10 to 13, along with reduced availability of parking and closures of the lower southeast Erie parking lot.

Pritchard said the film crew was respectful of traffic when Wellington Street shut down.

“It was only closed when they were shooting and open the rest of the time, took up a few parking spots but their film crew has been very respectful,” he said. “I've been working with them since they first came to town to take a look at the site and do a site visit. We're so happy to have them here. Something fun and new in Stratford."

A release date for Pining for Douglas has yet to be announced, but Bristow said it will air on the Hallmark channel either this Christmas or next.