Bemidji Named to Hallmark's Top 25 'Merriest Christmas Towns of America' | Lakeland News

Duration: 2:19 391 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

Bemidji has been recognized as one of Hallmark Channel's top 25 "Merriest Christmas Towns" in America, marking the first time any location within Minnesota has received this prestigious honor. For over two decades, Hallmark has defined the holiday season through cinematic depictions of picturesque ski resorts and charming small towns, creating a specific cozy atmosphere that Bemidji now officially fits into. The town's reputation for festive traditions is already well-established thanks to its beautifully decorated downtown area and annual events like the Night We Light celebration, which have long contributed to its identity as a premier winter destination. Local leaders expressed deep gratitude upon learning of their selection, noting that while there are many wonderful Christmas cities across Minnesota and the United States, being chosen for this exclusive list is an incredible surprise rather than just an expected accolade. The recognition validates Bemidji's unique blend of elements that create the classic Hallmark feel, ranging from Buena Vista Ski Resort and Rutgers Birchmont Lodge to its local shops and restaurants. This selection not only honors the town's existing charm but also opens up significant opportunities for future growth and visibility on a national stage. Beyond simple recognition, being named to this top 25 list provides Bemidji with the potential opportunity to host filming for one of Hallmark Channel's signature Christmas movies in the near future. To secure the number one spot that would guarantee such a production, the community is currently engaging in a public voting process that runs through September 4th. Residents and visitors are encouraged to cast their daily votes via email address on platforms like the Visit Bemidji website or the Hallmark Channel site, with each unique email allowed only one vote per day to ensure fair participation from the broader audience. The campaign aims to bring this top honor home to Minnesota by leveraging public support to elevate Bemidji's status as a leading holiday destination. By highlighting the specific features that contribute to its cozy holiday atmosphere in their submission materials, local organizers have successfully framed the town for national consideration and are now rallying community members to participate in the voting process. This initiative underscores the collaborative effort between local businesses, tourism boards, and residents who wish to showcase Bemidji's festive spirit on a larger platform while supporting non-profit news organizations like Lakeland PBS that cover these important regional stories.

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Well, Christmas may be 4 months away, but who says it's too early to settle in for a Hallmark movie? For 25 years, the company has been bringing Christmas magic onto the screen with picturesque ski resorts and small towns, and Hallmark themselves has recognized that same vibe in Bemidji. Bemidji has been named one of the top 25 merriest towns in America by Hallmark, and is the only location in all of Minnesota to receive the recognition. With the decorated downtown and annual events like the Night We Light celebration, Bemidji has become known for their Christmas time traditions. >> I'm at a loss for words. I truly am, because there are some amazing Christmas cities across Minnesota, but also across the United States. So, being selected as one of 25 is just an incredible honor, and words cannot describe what I felt and what I thought when uh we first found out. Um it's just it's a it's not a shock, but it's such a surprise and a deep honor to [music] have that um consideration and recognition from Hallmark Channel saying, "Your town fits our criteria of what makes a Hallmark Christmas town." >> Being named on the top 25 list also comes with the opportunity to potentially have a Hallmark movie filmed in Bemidji. A voting process will go from now through September 4th, and the number one merriest Christmas town will become the location that Hallmark will shoot one of their signature movies. >> Our submission video and our write-up that we produced really kind of highlighted the different elements that give Bemidji that Hallmark feel, like Buena Vista Ski Resort, Rutgers Birchmont Lodge, the downtown shops, the restaurants, everything that gives Bemidji that cozy holiday Hallmark charm, we added in our submission. Now, we're reaching out to the public to vote for Bemidji and really bring this this top honor home to Minnesota. Voting is now live, and you can vote daily per email address. So, one vote per email address per day through September 4th. >> The link to vote for Bemidji can be found at the Visit Bemidji website or Hallmark Channel website or posted along with this story on the Lakeland PBS site. >> Lakeland News is a non-profit news organization. Donate to Lakeland PBS today to support your local news team.