The Hallmark Christmas Experience: A Hometown Holiday is a television special that premiered on Hallmark Channel on December 6, 2025. It began streaming on Hallmark+ the next day. Crews filmed the special during the opening weekend of the Hallmark Christmas Experience fan event in Kansas City, Missouri. The special marked the first time Hallmark brought its annual hometown festival to television.
The special captures the second annual Hallmark Christmas Experience, a free event at Crown Center that Hallmark launched in 2024. The inaugural event drew nearly 80,000 fans over its run from late November through December. The 2025 edition expanded across four weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, each featuring a different lineup of visiting Hallmark stars. Benjamin Ayres appeared as a guest star during the November 28–30 weekend before stepping into the special’s hosting role.
On screen, the special follows Hallmark stars mingling with fans throughout Crown Center Square, including scheduled meet-and-greets and autograph sessions. It features musical performances, among them a segment recorded at the Grand Ole Opry with country singer Brad Paisley. Viewers also get exclusive first-look clips and premiere announcements for upcoming Hallmark movies and series. The special closes with a large-scale Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at Crown Center.
Benjamin Ayres leads the special, guiding segments throughout the Kansas City festivities. He is joined by Hallmark regulars, including Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes, Jessy Schram, Robert Buckley, and Kimberley Sustad. Other featured stars include Taylor Cole, Paul Campbell, Andrew Walker, Rhiannon Fish, and B.J. Britt. Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman will host the upcoming 2026 edition, which will air on December 5, 2026.
