After a successful debut on Hallmark+, Mistletoe Murders is officially making its broadcast premiere — and it’s coming back stronger with Season 2 premiering right after the finale of Season 1. Talk about a back-to-back Christmas gift!
Created and written by Ken Cuperus (the mind behind the original podcast), along with story editor Amanda Lo and co-writers Michelle Ricci and Shelley Scarrow, the series puts a festive spin on small-town crime drama.
Starring Sarah Drew as the sharp yet secretive shopkeeper Emily Lane, Mistletoe Murders combines twinkling lights with tension and suspense — proving that not all holiday stories end with hot cocoa and mistletoe kisses.
So, where exactly did Hallmark turn this cozy Christmas world into reality? Let’s unwrap the filming locations of Mistletoe Murders — covering both its chilling and charming seasons.
Where was Mistletoe Murders fimed?
Both seasons of Mistletoe Murders have been filmed in and around Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As reported by the FTIA, production for season 2 started on the 31st of March 2025 and was officially completed in filming by the end of May, 2025. This gave the production crew just enough time to polish the 30 minute episodes before the premiere scheduled for the fall.
Toronto remained the center of filming for both the seasons. The Greater Toronto area has always been popular for filming for Hallmark, as it provides locations that can effortlessly turn into small towns in America, or in this case Fletcher’s Grove. Some of the popular Hallmark productions that were shot in includes:
Toronto’s different neighborhoods and legendary buildings with streets covered in snow a perfect setting for a holiday mystery. The city’s transformation into small towns helps capture the warm, and mysterious feeling that Mistletoe Murders needed.
The Powerhouse, Etobicoke, ON
The Powerhouse, located on 65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive in Etobicoke, was one of the major filming locations for season 2, stated in local reports. The production was seen filming on the unique sight on the 2nd of May 2025.
The Powerhouse forms part of the fascinating Colonel Samuel Smith Park which rests upon the turquoise banks of Lake Ontario. The Powerhouse’s industrial elegance is certainly a distinctive feature of the location. It is likely this building’s singular beauty was utilized to anchor some of the more pivotal scenes of Season 2.
It is still unclear whether the Powerhouse was the venue of a mysterious crime scene or the more poetic rendezvous of Emily with Detective Sam Wilner (Peter Mooney). However, we can proudly say that the Powerhouse has enhanced the season’s visuals.
Why Mistletoe Murders Works in Toronto?
Hallmark productions and Toronto seem to go hand in hand for a reason. The city provides:
- A versatile city-scape that can portray small-town America
- Hallmark-trained local crews
- Tax breaks that offset filming costs in Canada
- A postcard winter that serves Christmas content
- The U.S. borderline for American crew and talent to cross easily
For Mistletoe Murders, the ability of Toronto to turn into Fletcher’s Grove, a fictional Fletcher’s Cove and tribute to the Murder, She Wrote series, makes it an ideal staging ground for the crime-solving escapades of Emily Lane.
Who’s in the cast of Mistletoe Murders?
- Sarah Drew as Emily Lane
- Peter Mooney as Sam Wilner
- Sierra Marilyn Riley as Violet Wilner
- Kylee Evans as Brooke Carmichael
- Jean Yoon as Sue Shin
- Lara Amersey as June Hubble
- David Hewlett as Ray
The Fletcher’s Grove Link
Toronto might be the host city for filming. However, the Fletcher’s Grove setting achieves its unique value. The town’s name pays homage to Jessica Fletcher and the writer of Murder, She Wrote, played by Angela Lansbury. Just as in Cabot Cove, Emily Lane is attracted to the underlying murders in Fletcher’s Grove.
From Podcast to Screen
Mistletoe Murders originated as a podcast series created by Ken Cuperus, with How I Met Your Mother’s Cobie Smulders voicing Emily Lane. Several cast members from the podcast—including Kylee Evans (Brooke) and Jean Yoon (Sue)—reprised their roles for the television adaptation, bringing continuity to the beloved characters.
The transition from audio to visual storytelling required finding locations that could match the atmospheric world listeners had imagined. Toronto’s production capabilities and scenic locations proved to be the perfect match for bringing Fletcher’s Grove to life on screen.
Plot
Mistletoe Murders follows Emily Lane (Sarah Drew), a friendly Christmas shop owner in the quaint town of Fletcher’s Grove who harbors a mysterious past. When murders begin occurring in her seemingly peaceful community, Emily can’t resist using her hidden talents and expertise from her former life to solve the crimes.
As she investigates, Emily crosses paths with Detective Sam Wilner (Peter Mooney), and a romantic connection begins to spark between them. However, their budding relationship becomes complicated when Sam starts to uncover that Emily isn’t quite who she appears to be—and that her past holds dangerous secrets she’s desperately trying to keep hidden.
Where to watch Mistletoe Murders series?
Mistletoe Murders Season 1 is currently available to stream on Hallmark+, the network’s streaming platform. The series also made its Hallmark Channel debut on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET. If you missed the premiere, don’t worry—the series will continue to air weekly on Hallmark Channel with back-to-back episodes every Friday night. You can catch new episodes on October 24, October 31, November 7, November 14, and November 21 at 8/7c and 9/8c.
After Season 1 concludes its run, Season 2 will premiere on Hallmark Channel, giving viewers the perfect opportunity to follow Emily Lane’s mystery-solving journey throughout the fall season—whether you prefer binge-watching on Hallmark+ or tuning in weekly for your Friday night.
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