‘A Biltmore Christmas’ premieres Sunday on Hallmark. Here’s when and how to watch

Brooke Cain
·4 min read
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The homegrown holiday movie we’ve been anticipating for nearly a year is about to land.

“A Biltmore Christmas” will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday.

The movie, which was filmed entirely at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and is set there as well, was announced last December and filming took place in January.

A Christmas movie set at Biltmore just feels right, as the place is so closely associated with the holiday.

The estate, built by George Vanderbilt, was first opened to Vanderbilt friends and family on Christmas Eve in 1895, according to the Biltmore Estate. A major tourist attraction year-round, the estate is especially popular during Christmas, when it is decked to the hilt with holiday trim. Earlier this month, Condé Nast Traveler named Asheville one of the best places on Earth to spend Christmas, due in large part to the presence of the Biltmore.

The movie really leans into the Biltmore Christmas history and overall vibe.

Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.

It stars Bethany Joy Lenz as Lucy, a screenwriter hired to write the script for a remake of a classic holiday movie called “His Merry Wife!” which was filmed in 1947 at the Biltmore (this is all part of the plot, that movie doesn’t actually exist). She writes a less happy ending than the original movie, so a studio exec sends Lucy to the Biltmore for inspiration.

While at the Biltmore, Lucy accidentally travels back in time to the 1947 set of “His Merry Wife!” and uses the opportunity to “uncover the truth about the movie’s original ending.” She meets Jack (played by Kristoffer Polaha), one of the film’s stars, and forms a deep connection with him. But, as all fans of time-travel fiction know, her presence at the 1947 Biltmore shoot disrupts the natural progression of events and puts the entire film production — and the futures of those involved — in jeopardy. So, before she can return to present day Biltmore, she must make things right.

But is there a romance? Why, of course! According to previously released plot info, 1947 Lucy has a chance to go home to present day, “but must say goodbye to the man who might be her soulmate unless some Christmas magic can keep the curtain from closing on their love story.”

Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.

How do I know those actors?

Bethany Joy Lenz previously starred in “One Tree Hill” and has appeared in other Hallmark movies: “Poinsettias for Christmas,” “Royal Matchmaker,” “Five Star Christmas,” “A Valentine’s Match” and “An Unexpected Christmas.”

Kristoffer Polaha is very familiar to Hallmark fans. He has been in seven Hallmark movies and is a star of the seven-part Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film series “Mystery 101.”

Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.

Yes, Biltmore is a real place. Some facts:

For those unfamiliar Hallmark watchers Googling during the movie: Yes, Biltmore Estate is a real place.

Here are some facts about the North Carolina landmark, courtesy of the Biltmore:

▪ The house is huge: The mansion itself is 175,000 square feet (about four acres of floor space) with 250 rooms: 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. On display inside the French Renaissance chateau is the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of art and furniture.

▪ The grounds are massive: The mansion sits on 8,000 acres of land (125,000 acres when Vanderbilt first owned it, but parts were sold to the US government to establish Pisgah National Forest). Of the current 8,000 acres, 75 of those are formal and informal gardens designed by renowned American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

▪ It has its own winery: The estate also boasts its own winery, thanks to the foresight of George Vanderbilt’s grandson, William A.V. Cecil, who began planting grapevines in the early 1970s. Biltmore’s Winery was established in 1985.

Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.

Other movies filmed at Asheville’s Biltmore

Among the most significant Biltmore-filmed movies is “Being There,” a highly acclaimed 1979 dark comedy starring Peter Sellers and Melvyn Douglas. Douglas won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the film, and Sellers was nominated for Best Actor. The Biltmore house is the grand estate belonging to Douglas’ character, where Sellers’ character recovers after an accident.

The 1957 classic film “The Swan,” starring Grace Kelly, was also filmed at Biltmore, with the estate serving as the palatial home of Princess Alexa (Kelly).

Parts of “Forrest Gump,” “Richie Rich,” “Hannibal,” “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Patch Adams” were also filmed at Biltmore.

Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.

How to watch ‘A Biltmore Christmas’

“A Biltmore Christmas” premieres Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel.

Hallmark Channel has its holiday movie schedule up through Dec. 16. Through that date, these are the only repeat airings listed:

  • 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28

  • 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8

How to watch on cable or satellite: Locally, you can find the Hallmark Channel on channel 123 on Spectrum, channel 312 on DirecTV, channel 185 on DISH and 1365 on AT&T U-verse.

How to stream: Hallmark Channel is also available on streaming platforms Sling, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, frndly TV, FUBO TV, Peacock, Philo and Vidgo.

Get more details on available channels at hallmarkchannel.com/channel-locator.

Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz and Colton Little in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.
Bethany Joy Lenz and Colton Little in “A Biltmore Christmas” on the Hallmark Channel. The movie was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, in January 2023.