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There’s an Ontario town known as ‘mini Hollywood North’ and here’s what’s filmed there
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There’s an Ontario town known as ‘mini Hollywood North’ and here’s what’s filmed there

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A trip to this small town will feel like stepping inside a Christmas movie – literally. Almonte, Ont., is just a quick half-hour drive from Ottawa, an area so cute it’s served as a backdrop for many movies, including over 10 Christmas movies. You don’t get that honour without good reason.

Almonte has a warm, inviting feeling; so much so that it’s been a major hotspot for filming cozy holiday movies.

The small town has served as a set for many movies, including a whopping 11 Christmas films! There would likely be even more than 11, but Almonte has had such high demand that the town has put a limit on how many movies are filmed there each year.

It’s been such a popular spot that, in 2020, the New York Times referred to Almonte as “Mini Hollywood North.”

If you want to check out the films that have been shot in Almonte, these are just a few:

  • Designing Christmas
  • A Christmas Stray
  • Feeling Butterflies
  • Under the Christmas Tree
  • A Chance For Christmas
  • Under the Mistletoe
  • Fat Man
  • Unlocking Christmas

The most recent film just premiered at TIFF Lightbox on Oct. 15, Magic on Set. According to Ottawa Tourism, the movie “tells the story about Sarah, an actress from California, who struggles to find her Christmas spirit while filming a holiday movie in snowy Ottawa. A chance encounter with David, a charming local baker who rescues dogs, leads to a day of festive adventures across the city. As they grow closer, holiday distractions and miscommunication threaten to pull them apart just as something magical is beginning.”

If you’re a sports fan, be sure to head over to The Dr. James Naismith Museum.

Dr. James Naismith is the inventor of basketball, and he’s actually from Almonte.

The museum includes artifacts from his life and details his upbringing and the story of how the sport came to be under his wing.

Of course, you’ll need to grab a bite while visiting town. The Stirling is a popular spot for brunch, while Joe’s Italian Kitchen offers delicious bites and views of the Mississippi River.

Yep, one thing is for sure: Almonte, aka Mini Hollywood North, is something truly special.

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Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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