Shubhabrata Dutta
Helmed by Dustin Rikert, Hallmark’s ‘A Newport Christmas’ is a time-travel romance wherein a woman from 1905 arrives in 2025 and falls for a man “from the future.” Ella, a Newport socialite, intends to use her wealth to start a foundation dedicated to helping her community. However, when she overhears her father speaking about her marriage to a stranger at the upcoming Christmas Eve ball, she is heartbroken. She goes for a nighttime sail and wishes for a different life. Unbeknownst to her, a comet passes through the sky at that moment.
When Ella opens her eyes again, she finds herself in 2025 after a man named Nick tells her so. Nick, who is a historian, is a Newport local who helps her cope with the shock and the new surroundings. The more time passes, the more she realizes that she is better off here than in 1905. Moreover, she and Nick have grown close, and she finally feels like she knows what true love is. Be that as it may, the more time Ella spends here, the greater the chance that she will lose the legacy she built, and Newport’s history will be altered. So, she and Nick plan a course for her to return to her time. The element of time travel having been thrown in, the visuals showcase two different Newports, separated by 120 years, while addressing how love transcends time. ‘A Newport Christmas’ is a follow-up to ‘A Biltmore Christmas.’
Where Was A Newport Christmas Filmed?
‘A Newport Christmas’ was filmed across New York and Rhode Island, specifically in Erie County and Niagara County, and in Newport. Principal photography reportedly began in the third week of March 2025 and continued for six weeks before wrapping up in the last week of April the same year. While Erie and Niagara counties served as the primary filming locations, Newport was used for additional footage.
Erie County, New York
In Erie County, the crew traveled to Buffalo to tape scenes that required custom-built sets. It utilized the resources of the Buffalo FilmWorks, located at 370 Babcock Street. The crew built a replica of an 1885 fishing boat called No Man’s Land that was restored by the Buffalo Maritime Center and is authentic to the time period. On-location shoots were also carried out. The InnBuffalo hotel at 619 Lafayette Avenue was decorated with Christmas paraphernalia. A casting call was made for extras to play Christmas formal guests, tuxedoed men, corset-wearing women, gilded-age reenactors, ballroom dancers, tourists, waitstaff, a violin busker, string quartet members, parade spectators, and Santa Clauses.
“It was our first foray into filmmaking here in the Buffalo area,” Dustin Rikert, who directed ‘A Newport Christmas’ and ‘A Biltmore Christmas,’ told Niagara Frontier Publications. “The state had passed a lot of incredible tax incentives, and we heard about Buffalo, and the film commission kind of lured us here to check things out. We fell in love with it.
In Akron, the crew accessed Russell Park at 110 Main Street. Portions of the park were turned into a Christmas wonderland with different kinds of camera rigs, including camera cranes, being used to tape wide shots. Main Street itself was used to capture some sequences, with horse-drawn carriages brought in for scenes set in 1905. Equipment Trucks were parked at Clinton Street.
Niagara County, New York
In Niagara County, Youngstown became the base for principal photography. Scenes were shot on Main Street, highlighting popular eating spots and local businesses like Youngstown Village Diner at 425 Main Street, Petey’s Treats at 431 Main Street, and the gift shop Everything Youngstown at 435 Main Street. The Ontario House, AKA The Stone Jug at 358 Main Street, was transformed into a bar, the harbormaster’s office, and a coffee shop called ‘Brewed Awakenings’ – all located in Newport in the movie. Actress Ginna Claire Mason, who plays Ella, got to sail a sailboat. The crew also used a house for multiple interior scenes, depicting Ella’s home, the Grafton Estate, which was built in the 1880s.
Newport, Rhode Island
‘A Newport Christmas’ is the first Hallmark holiday movie set in Rhode Island since ‘A Season for Miracles,’ which came out in 1999. While the story is set in Newport, the crew reportedly shot at only two locations in the city, Bowen’s Wharf and the historic Thames Street. With the city’s iconic waterfront as the backdrop, the street and the wharf were decked up with lights and Christmas décor. Locals were also brought in as extras. Bowen’s Wharf is a must-visit tourist spot in Newport and is known for its shopping, dining, and recreational activities.
A Newport Christmas Cast Details
The ‘A Newport Christmas’ cast is led by Ginna Claire Mason and Wes Brown. Mason is a Broadway actress who grew up on movies like music theatre classics like ‘My Fair Lady,’ ‘The Sound of Music,’ and ‘Annie Get Your Gun.’ Though she is into workouts and fitness, she loves Chocolate straws. She is also a member of a book club and enjoys spending time with friends in the business. Brown is also a musician and has even released his own Christmas EP. He enjoys outdoor activities like walking and biking.
Ginna Claire Mason as Ella
Ginna Claire Mason plays Ella. She is a familiar face in Hallmark projects, which include ‘Hats Off to Love,’ ‘A Carol for Two,’ ‘A Heidelberg Holiday,’ and ‘A Holiday Spectacular.’ Her national tour and Las Vegas credits include ‘Wicked,’ ‘Newsies,’ ‘Flashdance,’ and ‘Duck Commander Musical.’ Her work in regional theatre includes ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie,’ ‘Hairspray,’ and ‘Grease.’
Wes Brown as Nick
Wes Brown portrays Nick in ‘A Newport Christmas.’ His fans know him as Luke McDonald from ‘True Blood,’ Chris Griffen from ‘We Are Marshall,’ and Pat Riley from ‘Glory Road.’ Like Mason, he too is a Hallmark staple and can be spotted in ‘June in January,’ ‘Love’s Resounding Courage,’ ‘Love Begins,’ ‘Shadow on The Mesa,’ ‘Christmas Cookies,’ and ‘Love Under the Stars.’ His other feature film performances include Mountie in ‘The Call of the Wild,’ Luke Kemp in ‘Inheritance,’ and Gary in ‘Stalked Within.’
While Mason and Brown are the lead actors, they are joined by a talented ensemble that includes Paige Cummings as Ada, Joseph Dellger as Albert, Amanda Marie Lungaro as Sharon, and Tracey B. Wilson as Grafton. The additional cast includes Jon Cesar as the servant, Joshua Cole as the Newport resident, Lauren Issa and Peter Johnson as dock tourists, Maxwell Sebastian and Bill Smith as pedestrians, Lila Ang as a Christmas shopper, and Dave Sutton as a ball guest. David O’Donnell, Talia Robinson, and Evan Alexander Smith also feature in minor roles.
Read More: Christmas on Duty: Filming Locations and Cast Details
