With exactly 10 months until Christmas 2025, Hallmark Channel thrilled many fans with its first festive announcement of the year. On February 25, the network revealed that its Hallmark Christmas Experience events in Kansas City were such a hit in 2024 — attracting nearly 80,000 fans — that they’re bringing back the star-studded holiday weekends.
According to its updated website, Hallmark will again host weekend gatherings for fans, from November 28 through December 21, featuring holiday activities and chances to meet their favorite stars. More information and tickets will be available in June, per the site.
Hallmark Channel’s social media team broke the news by posting a video of 2024 highlights, writing, “✨🎄BIG NEWS!🎄✨ The Hallmark Christmas Experience will be back in 2025 to bring more joy to your holiday season with tree lightings, a Christmas Market, Create and Learn workshops with Hallmark Artists, Hallmark Channel stars and more! 🤩 So whether you didn’t get a chance to join us in Kansas City last year—or you experienced the magic and can’t wait to come back—keep an eye out for tickets in June. #HallmarkChristmasKC 👀”
Nearly 80,000 Fans Flocked to Kansas City for the Hallmark Christmas Experience in 2024
In November and December 2024, nearly 80,000 fans attended the Hallmark Christmas Experience at Crown Center, just outside Hallmark’s corporate headquarters, according to Kansas City’s FOX4 News. The outlet said fans from all 50 states and 21 countries attended the festivities.
“We have this great relationship with our audience,” Hallmark star Kristoffer Polaha told the news station in December, “and having an experience like the Hallmark Christmas Experience gives us a chance to have that one-on-one interface with the people who get to watch our movies all year long. So it’s a really special opportunity.”
Each weekend of the 2024 Hallmark Christmas Experience, a different set of Hallmark stars appeared for special panels and meet-and-greets with fans. Nearly 40 stars appeared throughout the month, and the network hosted a red carpet premiere of its Kansas City-based movie, “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.”
Days before the announcement, Hallmark teased that big news was coming on February 25, sending fans into a frenzy on social media. While some suspected Hallmark would announce a major movie being filmed for its annual Countdown to Christmas, many were hoping for the return of the Kansas City events.
“Hmmmm…I’m hoping for a 2025 HM Christmas Experience announcement,” one tweeted. “It was so much fun in 2024!”
Someone else tweeted, “On February 25th, hmm, that can’t be a coincidence to announce on the 25th, maybe? I’m guessing an announcement for the next HallmarkChristmasExperience 2 in KC?!? I sure hope so!! 🎄❤️🎄🤞”
Another tweeted, “A #whencallstheheart Christmas movie would be great!!! But I’ll settle for another KC experience ❤️”
Hallmark Will Also Set Sail Aboard Hallmark Christmas Cruise in 2025
GettyHallmark execs staged multiple new events to engage with fans in 2024, including an East Coast bus tour in October that delivered stars to fan events in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.
In November, the network also held two Hallmark Christmas Cruises. Both sold out within hours, with a waitlist of 60,000. Held on the Norwegian Gem cruise ship as stars and fans sailed to the Bahamas, the cruises included holiday sing-alongs, festive game shows, Christmas tree lightings, celebrity panels and movie premieres.
Shortly after the second cruise returned to port, Hallmark announced on November 22 that it will hold another cruise in November 2025, but on a bigger ship, the Norwegian Joy, which can accommodate 3,852 passengers. That cruise also sold out within a day, and Hallmark has not announced if a second cruise will be added.
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Hallmark Channel Makes 1st Big Christmas Announcement of 2025