If you are wondering where Northern Lights of Christmas was filmed, the answer is Ontario, Canada, rather than Alaska. The 2018 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film uses Ontario locations to portray the Alaskan setting where aspiring pilot Zoey Hathaway unexpectedly inherits a reindeer farm. The movie stars Ashley Williams as Zoey and Corey Sevier as Alec Wynn, the ranch hand who works at the property.
Although the story takes place in a remote Alaskan community, the production took advantage of Northern Ontario’s landscapes and small-town locations to create the film’s wintry atmosphere. The production also used real local locations rather than relying entirely on studio sets, helping give the Christmas romance its rustic setting.
Northern Lights of Christmas Filming Locations Explained
The primary filming location for Northern Lights of Christmas was North Bay, Ontario. The city has become a popular destination for Christmas movie productions because of its historic downtown, surrounding natural scenery and ability to double for fictional small towns. North Bay locations featured in the movie include parts of its downtown area and the location associated with the North Star Diner.
Other reported Ontario locations include Rutherglen and North Callander, where Vested Interest Trading on Main Street was used during production. The movie was filmed in Northern Ontario rather than in the Alaska locations depicted in the story, with filming taking place around September and October 2018. The production’s snowy appearance was therefore created despite the movie being shot before the winter season, with artificial snow also used during filming.
The movie follows Zoey Hathaway, a pilot who has spent years working toward her aviation career. Her plans change when she unexpectedly inherits her uncle’s Alaskan ranch, along with its resident reindeer and Alec, the ranch hand who helps run the property. As Zoey adjusts to her unexpected responsibilities and prepares for the Christmas Eve reindeer parade, her relationship with Alec gradually develops into the film’s central romance.
The contrast between the fictional Alaskan setting and the real Ontario filming locations is one of the movie’s most interesting production details. North Bay’s small-town streets, snowy scenery and local businesses help create the isolated Christmas community seen on screen, making Ontario an effective stand-in for Alaska.