Saddle up, Hallmark fans, because this year’s Countdown to Christmas has a cowboy riding into town. Set in the fictional small town of Fern, Texas, My Christmas Cowboy trades snowy main streets for ranch fences, cowboy hats and a holiday Reindeer Roundup. It pairs two longtime Hallmark favourites, Amy Acker and Luke Macfarlane, in a second-chance romance with a lot of Texas spirit.
But here’s the twist: the Lone Star State on screen isn’t actually Texas. Let’s explore where the movie was really filmed.
My Christmas Cowboy Filming Locations
The Hallmark Channel movie My Christmas Cowboy was filmed in British Columbia, Canada. Ranches, historic town streets and professional studio spaces in the province were used to recreate a small Texas community getting ready for Christmas.
The production reportedly shot in spring 2026 over roughly three weeks, ahead of its November 2026 premiere. Because it was filmed in spring, the festive look came from set dressing and decorations rather than real winter weather.
Langley and Abbotsford, British Columbia – The Kane Family Ranch
The ranches of Langley and Abbotsford reportedly stood in for the movie’s ranch scenes. This part of the Fraser Valley is known for farmland, open fields, horse properties and old-style barns, which makes it a natural match for a cowboy story. Wooden buildings, paddocks and rustic fences, along with Christmas decorations, help sell the look of a working Texas ranch.
Fort Langley Historic District – Downtown Fern, Texas
The fictional town of Fern is reportedly brought to life through Fort Langley’s historic district, with its heritage buildings, independent shops and walkable streets. Fort Langley is no stranger to Hallmark crews, and its village charm makes a convincing stand-in for a cozy small-town main street at Christmas.
Fraser Valley Fairgrounds – The Christmas Roundup
Agricultural exhibition grounds in the Fraser Valley are reported as the setting for the community Roundup, since showgrounds can hold dirt arenas, temporary stages and big crowds.
Langley Community Halls – Town Gatherings
Community halls and event spaces around Langley also fit the indoor scenes where Fern’s residents plan and fundraise for their holiday festivities.
Burnaby, British Columbia – Meg’s TV Newsroom
Studio facilities and modern office spaces in Burnaby reportedly provided the television newsroom tied to Meg’s job. The urban setting creates a nice contrast with the ranch life Meg grew up around.
Also read: Where was Hallmark’s A Season of Promises filmed? Every Location Revealed
Behind the Scenes of My Christmas Cowboy
The most interesting behind-the-scenes fact is that Amy Acker didn’t just star in the film, she also wrote it. The screenplay is credited to Amy Acker and Emma Bates, and Peter Benson, one of Hallmark’s most prolific directors, directed it.
Acker, a Texas native, has said she always wanted to tell a Texas story. She also said her dream is to appear in a western someday, and that her writing partner Emma Bates is also originally from Texas.
That personal touch shows up on screen. Acker added details from her own Texas upbringing, such as tamales on Christmas Eve and a Christmas tree decorated with tiny neckerchiefs. She also called the role a chance to live out her childhood horse-girl dreams and said she loved working with Luke Macfarlane.
The film is also a big comeback for her on the network. It is Acker’s first Hallmark Christmas movie since 2021. Peter Benson also directed Mr. & Mrs. Christmas earlier this season, and he directed the upcoming Snow Globe Town, inspired by a Brad Paisley song, which premieres December 12.
My Christmas Cowboy Cast
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Amy Acker | Meg |
| Luke Macfarlane | Billy Kane |
| Sara Canning | Billy’s sister |
| Isaiah Haegert | Graham, Billy’s nephew |
Amy Acker is best known as Root on CBS’s Person of Interest and as Fred Burkle/Illyria on Angel. Hallmark fans will remember her from A Novel Romance and Crashing Through the Snow.
Luke Macfarlane is one of Hallmark’s most reliable leading men and is known for his comic timing and charm.
Sara Canning is a familiar face from The Vampire Diaries and several Hallmark films.
What is the plot?
Meg gave up her newscaster dreams after a disastrous college audition and has been content as a news producer in Fern, Texas. Billy Kane, her college crush and audition partner, is now a famous Hollywood host whose career is in jeopardy after an on-camera mistake.
His publicist tells him to keep a low profile, so Billy goes home to Texas to spend the holidays with his sister and her family. Billy is happy to see Meg again, but she’s not so happy, because she is still upset that he used her failed audition to get the job himself.
They keep running into each other since his nephew Graham is in a horse therapy program run by Meg’s dad at their ranch. When her dad is injured just before the ranch’s annual Reindeer Roundup, he asks Billy to host, which Meg does not like.
With only days left, Meg teaches Billy to ride and rope, and as they reconnect, she sees there’s more to him than Hollywood glamour. Along the way, each helps the other step outside their comfort zone and find joy, and perhaps love.
Where to watch My Christmas Cowboy?
My Christmas Cowboy premieres Friday, November 13, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on Hallmark Channel and streams on Hallmark+ from Saturday, November 14.
Encore airings on Hallmark Channel:
- Saturday, November 14 at 6 p.m. ET
- Sunday, November 22 at 2 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, November 25 at 8 p.m. ET (the night before Thanksgiving)
Cord-cutters can also watch it through live TV services that carry Hallmark Channel, such as Philo. If you have DirecTV, Hallmark Channel is on channel 312.
Other Details
- Network: Hallmark Channel (Countdown to Christmas 2026)
- Premiere date: November 13, 2026
- Director: Peter Benson
- Writers: Amy Acker & Emma Bates
- Rating / Runtime: TV-G, about 1 hour 24 minutes
- Setting: Fern, Texas (fictional)
- Filming location: British Columbia, Canada
- Up next in Countdown to Christmas: The Nights Before Christmas (Nov. 14) and Mistletoe and Mimosas (Nov. 15)
- Where was My Christmas Cowboy filmed? See Hallmark Cast - November 13, 2026
- Where was Nocturne Filmed? Every Real Location Behind Apple TV’s Thriller - November 10, 2026
- Where was Hallmark’s A Season of Promises filmed? Every Location Revealed - November 8, 2026
