Hallmark Movies and Mysteries always goes big on the holidays — the channel has 22 new TV movies for the 2016 Christmas season. This year, they’re also betting on Northfield.
“Love Always, Santa” was filmed last winter in the Minnesota town. It stars Marguerite Moreau (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as a widow who finds love after her daughter (Guthrie veteran Isadora Swann) writes a letter to Santa, asking him to cheer up her mom. The TV movie premiered in Northfield on Thursday night and will air on the channel throughout the holiday season.
Northfield was chosen for its picturesque downtown, with Bridge Square and several businesses, including Content Bookstore, prominently featured in the film. In addition, one of the film’s producers, Lori Leahy, grew up in nearby New Prague. “Love Always, Santa” reportedly cost about $500,000 and was mostly shot in Northfield, which is prominently featured in the trailer.
Sara Marsh, who plays a friend of the main character, says the shoot was chilly but fun. Although she grew up in the Twin Cities, it also gave her an excuse to make her first visit to Northfield when she filmed her scenes in January.
“What a gorgeous town,” says Marsh, whose theater company, Dark & Stormy Productions, opens the dark comedy, “The Norwegians,” next month. “We had a blast filming there, and folks couldn’t have been more welcoming (it was freezing but it was beautiful).”
