Great American Family‘s original Christmas movie slate is here — and has increased by 50% in its second year. On Thursday, Bill Abbott’s network unveiled the 18 all-new original movies kicking off their “Great American Christmas” programming franchise.
This year’s annual event kicks off on Friday, Oct. 21 with an original Christmas movie premiering every weekend. Additionally, Christmas movies will air 24/7 throughout the end of the year.
Original movie talent returning to star in “Great American Christmas” include Daniel Lissing, Merritt Patterson, Jill Wagner, Cameron Mathison, Jen Lilley, Danica McKellar, Neal Bledsoe, Cindy Busby, Jessica Lowndes, Shae Robins, Casey Elliott and Jillian Murray. Making their “Great American Christmas” debut this year are Andrea Barber, Dan Payne, Marc Blucas, Jennifer Freeman, Joseph Cannata, Garrett Watson, Jesse Hutch, Paul Greene, the legendary Gladys Knight and Candace Cameron Bure.
Bure left her post at Hallmark in April after starring in multiple films for the network, a decision she spoke in length on with Variety last month.
“I have an executive role at the network as well. It’s really looking at content overall and producing other content in terms of Christmas and rom-coms and stuff for the Great American Living channel,” Bure shared. “So there’s lots for me to do but there’s a lot more that will be off camera and behind the scenes than how much you’ll see me on camera, because that’s really what my life has taken and this path.”
Great American Family has similar themes to Hallmark Media, but also has a big faith component, which was an important draw for Bure.
“They are going to move much more forward in the faith content, and having both — still having lots of movies, rom-coms and Christmas movies that don’t involve faith, but also ones that really do,” she shared. “I think that’s that’s going to be a big difference in Great American Family channel, as well as patriotic content.”
Scroll down for the full “Great American Christmas” slate:
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Image Credit: GAC Media
“Destined at Christmas”
Saturday, October 22, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Shae Robins and Casey Elliott
Official synopsis: “Kim and Theo meet amid Black Friday shopping madness but there’s a definite spark between them. When a power outage causes some panic at a store, the couple gets separated. With Christmas coming, there should be plenty of distractions, but neither Kim nor Theo can forget the other. Both yearn to find each other but how with so little information to go on? It’ll take a little Christmas magic and destiny to bring them back together.”
“Catering Christmas”
Saturday, October 29, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing
Official synopsis: “A fledgling caterer, Molly Frost, is hired by Jean Harrison, the perfectionistic director of the renowned Harrison Foundation, to cater this year’s annual Christmas Gala dinner. Things get complicated when Molly falls for Jean’s nephew, Carson, 30s, a photographer with no desire to take over the family’s foundation — until his aunt assigns him to the task of making sure the catered dinner goes perfectly.”
“A Royal Christmas on Ice”
Saturday, November 5, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Anna Marie Dobbins and Jonathan Stoddard
Official synopsis: “Looking to escape his Royal life, a dashing prince comes to the United States to start a business in a small town in upstate New York and winds up falling for a former Olympic ice skater.”
“Love At the Christmas Contest” (wt)
Sunday, November 6, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Samantha Cope and Ross Jirgl
Official synopsis: “For as long as she can remember, Angie’s favorite part of Christmas has been the Christmas Eve tree lighting in town square. But this Christmas, her first without her mom, Angie doesn’t feel much like celebrating… until she learns her mom had always dreamed of winning the annual tree decorating contest and seeing her tree lit up in town square. Angie realizes winning the contest and decorating the town’s tree is the perfect way to honor her mom. What Angie isn’t expecting is her high school sweetheart David and his adorable daughter Gabby to enter the contest, too.”
“A Merry Christmas Wish”
Saturday, November 12, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Jill Wagner and Cameron Mathison
Official synopsis: “An NYC advertising executive returns to her hometown to sell the family farm, but instead reconnects with her childhood friend and gets involved with organizing the yearly Winter Wonderland, which takes place on the property.” -
Image Credit: GAC Media
“My Best Friend’s Christmas”
Sunday, November 13, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Breanne Hill and Colton Little
Official synopsis: “When a woman returns home to find her ex in a relationship, she enlists her best friend to act as her fake boyfriend for the holidays.”
“Christmas At Pine Valley”
Saturday, November 19, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Kristina Cole and Andrew Biernat
Official synopsis: “Natalie is the owner of a successful farm and home goods store that garners the attention of a major magazine. The magazine sends a reporter named Josh to profile Natalie’s company thinking it’s a family-run business. Little does he know that Natalie’s business is run by her with the help of longtime family friends. Knowing how much the article will help struggling farm, Natalie must convince Josh that her ‘family’ and Christmas traditions are all real.”
“My Favorite Christmas Tree”
Sunday, November 20, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Emma Johnson and Giles Panton
Official synopsis: “Kyla is a skilled genealogy researcher who’s made a thriving business of putting together family trees. When she comes across new information regarding her mother’s mysterious extended family, Kyla and her sister travel to the charming town of Conifer, hoping to piece together their ancestry. The search leads Kyla to a generations-old Christmas tree farm, its stubborn, handsome owner – and potentially, love.”
“Christmas at the Drive-In”
Friday, November 25, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe
Official synopsis: “A property lawyer works to prove that her town’s Drive In Theater, a local institution is not closed down at the holidays, finding romance with the very person who is trying to sell the property.”
“I’m Glad It’s Christmas”
Saturday, November 26, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Jessica Lowndes, Paul Greene and Gladys Knight
Official synopsis: “An aspiring Broadway singer is convinced to participate in a small-scale production for her local Christmas celebration. Along the way, she finds hope and unexpected mentorship towards her dream career. But will her professional success come at the cost of her chance at love?”
“Candace Cameron Bure Presents: A Christmas…Present”
Sunday, November 27, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Candace Cameron Bure and Marc Blucas
Official synopsis: “Maggie and Eric are busy parents of teenagers who embark on a trip to the home of Maggie’s widowed brother to celebrate Christmas. Everyone has different expectations of the perfect holiday. Through a series of transformative events, Maggie learns to embrace the season.” -
Image Credit: GAC Media
“Christmas on Candy Cane Lane”
Saturday, December 3, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Andrea Barber and Dan Payne
Official synopsis: “Ivy struggles with the long shadow cast by her late mother, Muriel, the darling of Icicle Falls; head of the Candy Cane Lane Lights Extravaganza, owner of The Christmas Haus, and a former TV star known adoringly as the “Christmas Maven.” This Christmas, a series of comical and mysterious events bring the town together in a masterstroke of perfection only the “Christmas Maven” herself could appreciate. A Candy Rock Entertainment production.”
“B&B Merry”
Sunday, December 4, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch
Official synopsis: “Renowned luxury travel blogger, Tracey Moore, is invited to a Christmastime getaway in exchange for a review of a smalltown B&B. Despite her initial reservations, she finds herself wanting to help the property… and falling for the owner’s handsome son, Graham, who helps her to learn that every experience can be five-star when shared with kindred spirits.”
“Big Box Christmas” (wt)
Friday, December 9, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Jennifer Freeman and Garrett Watson
Official synopsis: “Two exes finally reconnect when a snowstorm leaves them stranded in a superstore (without cell service or Wi-Fi) just before Christmas.”
“A Prince for the Holidays” (wt)
Saturday, December 10, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Cindy Busby and Jilon VanOver
Official synopsis: “Madison, an aspiring musician, jokingly tells her overbearing family that she is dating the prince of a small European nation. The joke goes too far as her friend and co-worker Sebastian is roped into impersonating the prince while visiting her family in New Jersey. Little does Madison know that Sebastian happens to be hiding a royal secret.”
“A Belgian Chocolate Christmas”
Sunday, December 11, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Jaclyn Hales and Zane Stephens
Official synopsis: “A photographer takes her best friend’s place at a Belgian culinary school at the holidays and connects with the chocolatier leading the class. As romance begins to bloom, the only problem is a case of mistaken identity.”
“A Brush with Christmas Romance” (wt)
Saturday, December 17, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Jillian Murray and Joseph Cannata
Official synopsis: “Over the week leading up to Christmas, Charlotte tries to capture her own unique style in the local art scene while also helping her mother run the family restaurant. Disheartened and struggling to find time for her art, Charlotte throws out her latest painting, only to discover that it has been anonymously submitted to the Christmas art festival. It turns out that Wyatt, a visiting artist, stumbled upon her discarded work and is now using the festival’s exposure to find its mysterious creator who has stolen his heart with her craft.”
“The Art of Christmas”
Sunday, December 18, 8 p.m. ET
Cast: Brigitte Kingsley and Joe Towne
Official synopsis: “After her latest gallery exhibition literally goes up in flames, struggling artist Liv James accepts a teaching job at a local elementary school to make ends meet. Through this reluctant career move she discovers her true self, a new sense of purpose and a surprising romance.”