A special presentation will be made here in coming weeks by a delegation from The Hallmark Channel, which plans to seek permission to include Blackstone’s Seay Park in one of its holiday movies set for 2027. Filming would take place at this year’s Grand Illumination.
The movie is tentatively titled, “Southern Mistletoe.” It features a love story between “Margaret” and “Dan,” who grew-up in the same small town, moved away, married and had families of their own before divorcing, moving back to their hometowns, and rediscovering one another.
A press release from the network was received late Monday by the Courier-Record. Seay Park could figure prominently in one of the final scenes, which will include the two becoming engaged as the crowd counts down from 10, and Mayor Lafayette Dickens throws the switch to thousands of Christmas lights.
One inconvenient aspect of the movie being shot here is that in all likelihood, there will be several “re-takes,” requiring multiple countdowns and flippings of the park switch.
A resident of Blackstone knows one of the producers and has encouraged the produc- tion team, which is making an early visit here next month, to also consider Schwartz Tavern, the Robert Thomas Carriage Museum, and downtown businesses in the film. One challenge would be that if one watches Hallmark movies, nearly every scene includes Christmas lights and Christmas colors. That would put a premium this year on quality of decorations in the park and lighting of the historic business district (HBD).
Another scene could include food trucks along Main Street, which would require special approval from Town Council. The food truck scene would appear early in the movie where “Dan” and “Margaret” bump into one another after 20 years.
As far as any local “extras,” no acting parts are available, but one part of the Grand Illumination scene would include a community choir singing. Area churches are expected to be contacted in coming weeks for members to audition via Zoom.
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