MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Mitchell Main Street and Beyond believes the city is ready to be the star in a made-for-television film.
The organization has entered Mitchell into Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Towns contest. Hallmark Channel is 25 years old and most famous for its sappy romantic tales of Christmas, always sitting on December 25th. To celebrate, producers are looking to crown the 25 best holiday towns in America.
For the first round, entries are made online, and include a letter, photos, and a two-minute video detailing the town’s community spirit. Any traditions that are captured in newspapers or online publications like Mitchell Now should be sent in as well. The initial round ends at 11:59 p.m. on August 10th. Anyone from Mitchell is encouraged to also send in a submission. If a town gets multiple entries, the judges combine them together into one joint package.
Mitchell Main Street and Beyond used the Parade of Lights, Shop Small Saturday and other local retailer initiatives, and storefront decorations in their pitch. If Hallmark deems that worthy of becoming a finalist, then public voting takes place between August 14th and September 4th.
Twenty-five locations will be recognized as Official Hallmark Christmas Towns, complete with a digital toolkit to help improve marketing and social media awareness and a Countdown to Christmas promotional piece to hype up holiday festivities around the city. The grand prize winner is named Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town and will become the setting in a future Hallmark movie.
Perhaps next December Hallmark will debut An A-Maize-ing Christmas with Candace Cameron Bure, where she plays a high-powered LA lawyer who meets the love of her life in the shadow of the World’s Only Corn Palace.