Quick Answer: Adopting St. Nick was filmed in and around Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with at least one scene shot at 326 Main Street in Stonewall, a small town just outside the city. Principal photography reportedly began on August 10, 2026, and wrapped in the last week of that month. The movie premieres Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. Central) on Hallmark Channel and streams the next day on Hallmark+.
Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas 2026 rolls on with a Halloween-night premiere about a single mom, a retirement community and a resident who looks an awful lot like Santa. Maren is a busy single mother to her adopted daughter, Leah, and runs her late father’s beloved hardware store, where she spends most of her time fixing things for her neighbours. When Leah gets the chance to join the Christmas Companions program at Jolly Acres, a new retirement community in town, she jumps at it because she misses having a grandfather in her life.
Leah is paired with Kris, a jolly resident with an uncanny resemblance to Santa Claus, while Maren crosses paths with Reid, the centre’s Director of Community Launch and Operations, whose job keeps him moving from one facility to the next. When the contractor building the centre’s community room suddenly pulls out, Maren steps in to finish the project so the program can go on.
Unlike most Hallmark holiday titles, which are based in British Columbia or Ontario, this one heads to the Canadian Prairies. Below is everything we know about where Adopting St. Nick was filmed, the real locations used, and what the cast shared from set.
Adopting St. Nick Filming Locations
Adopting St. Nick was filmed entirely in Manitoba, Canada, mostly in and around Winnipeg.
| Location | Area | What It Was Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | Primary production base |
| Downtown Winnipeg | Winnipeg, MB | Storefronts redressed for the town’s businesses |
| Real Winnipeg property | Winnipeg, MB | Stood in for the Jolly Acres retirement community |
| 326 Main Street | Stonewall, MB | Identified filming spot |
Like most Hallmark Christmas movies, it was shot in summer, with fake snow and festive set dressing turning a Manitoba August into a snowy December.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba’s capital served as the main production hub for Adopting St. Nick. The production reportedly set up in the downtown area, where crews redressed local storefronts and businesses to create the movie’s small-town main street, likely including the look of Maren’s hardware store.
Winnipeg has become a reliable Hallmark home base over the years, hosting productions such as Crashing Through the Snow, Journey Back to Christmas and The Holiday Shift. It also stood in for Pennsylvania in Miracle in Bethlehem, PA, which happens to feature Amy Groening as well.
Jolly Acres Retirement Community
Much of the story unfolds at the fictional Jolly Acres. To bring it to life, the filming unit reportedly took over a real property in Winnipeg. The facility’s name hasn’t been made public, which is common for private filming locations.
Stonewall, Manitoba
The production also travelled outside the city. One scene has been matched to 326 Main Street in Stonewall, a town about 25 kilometres north of Winnipeg known for its limestone quarries. Its compact main street makes an easy small-town backdrop once the wreaths and snow machines arrive.
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Behind the Scenes
A Hometown Shoot for Amy Groening
Groening is a Winnipeg native, so this production brought her home. On Instagram, she said she had the dreamiest time making the movie and couldn’t wait to share it with fans. She added that it was especially meaningful to be back in her hometown working with old friends, calling the shoot a Santa Summit reunion with director Jeff Beesley and fellow cast and crew from that earlier film.
Michael Rady Feels “So Lucky”
Adopting St. Nick is Rady’s first new Christmas movie since 2023. Sharing behind-the-scenes photos on October 20, he said he felt lucky to have been part of Hallmark’s work for more than 10 years, and that this set brought together old friends, new friends, a lot of fun and Santa himself.
Adopting St. Nick Cast
Amy Groening as Maren
Groening plays Maren, the hardware store owner and devoted adoptive mom. She earned a 2021 Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Bone Cage. Hallmark fans know her from Miracle in Bethlehem, PA and The Santa Summit, and she was last seen on Hallmark Channel in February’s Because of Cupid opposite Evan Roderick.
Michael Rady as Reid
Rady plays Reid, the nomadic director who launches new Jolly Acres locations. His breakout role came as Kostos in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and he has starred in a Hallmark movie almost every year since 2015. This year he also headlined August’s Catch of the Day with Emilie Ullerup.
Supporting Cast
- Randy Apostle as Kris Patterson
- Taylor Blake as Leah
- Aaron Merke as Big Jim
Behind the Camera
Jeff Beesley directed the movie from a script by Susan Brightbill, with Evoke Entertainment among the production companies. Beesley previously directed Groening in The Santa Summit.
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When does Adopting St. Nick premiere?
| Release | Date |
|---|---|
| Hallmark Channel premiere | Saturday, October 31, 2026, 8/7c |
| Streaming | Hallmark+, from November 1, 2026 |
| Runtime | 1 hr 24 min, TV-G |
Adopting St. Nick is the eighth movie in Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas 2026 lineup.
Where can you watch Adopting St. Nick?
Adopting St. Nick airs on Hallmark Channel and streams on Hallmark+ starting November 1, 2026. Cord-cutters can also watch Hallmark Channel through live TV services such as Frndly TV and YouTube TV.
FAQs
Was Adopting St. Nick filmed in a real small town?
The town on screen is fictional, pieced together from real locations in Winnipeg and nearby Stonewall, Manitoba.
When was Adopting St. Nick filmed?
Filming took place in August 2026, reportedly running from August 10 to the last week of the month.
Who stars in Adopting St. Nick?
Amy Groening as Maren and Michael Rady as Reid, with Taylor Blake as Leah and Randy Apostle as Kris.
Is Jolly Acres a real place?
No. Jolly Acres is fictional, though the production reportedly filmed it at a real property in Winnipeg.
Is Adopting St. Nick based on a book?
No book adaptation has been identified. It’s presented as an original Hallmark Christmas romance rather than part of a series.
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