Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas Actors and Movies 2021
Credit: Jill Johnson, Luke Wooden/JPI; Peacock

A fun way to catch some past and present soap actors in an annual holiday celebration.

Details for the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas event have been announced and we have the schedule featuring new movie premieres — and the best part is, many of them star a few of daytime’s favorite actors — past and present. Beginning Friday, October 22, fans will be able to watch All My Children’s Lacey Chabert (Bianca) and Jonathan Bennett (JR), on screen Days of Our Lives mother/son duo Alison Sweeney (Sami) and Chandler Massey (ex-Will), as well as Casey Deidrick (ex-Chad), General Hospital’s Ryan Paevey (ex-Nathan), One Life to Live’s John Brotherton (Jared), Barbara Niven (Liz) and Brandon Routh (Seth), Young and the Restless alum Lyndsy Fonseca (ex-Colleen) and more in some of this season’s most romantic storylines.

Watch the network’s promo, which contains a Halloween twist, and be sure to mark your calendars.

You, Me and the Christmas Trees

An expert on evergreens, Olivia (Danica McKellar) agrees to help Jack (Benjamin Ayres), a fourth-generation Christmas tree farmer, figure out a mysterious illness that has befallen the firs, which threatens his family’s 100-year business. Tune in Friday, October 22, at 8 pm.

Boyfriends of Christmas Past

Days before Christmas, Lauren (Catherine Haena Kim), a marketing executive, receives visits by the ghosts of four ex-boyfriends. If she doesn’t learn to open her heart, she could risk losing her best friend, Nate (Raymond Ablack). It all goes down on Saturday, October 23, at 8 pm.

The Santa Stakeout

Detective Tanya (Tamera Mowry-Housely) has to partner up with fellow detective Ryan (Paul Campbell) to solve a string of high-profile holiday party heists. While undercover as newlyweds, they move into a house next to the prime suspect, and while taking part in the neighborhood celebrations, their fake relationship becomes a reality. Watch the case unfold on Sunday, October 24, at 8 pm.

Christmas in Harmony

After Harmony (Ashleigh Murray) is tricked into auditioning for the Holiday Chorus, which is being directed by her ex (Luke James), feelings reemerge for the once couple in love. Get swept away on Friday, October 29, at 8 pm.

Coyote Creek Christmas

The fate of the Coyote Creek Inn is in question as Dylan (Ryan Paevey) and Paige (Janel Parrish) find love during a Christmas Around the World party. Join the festivities on Saturday, October 30, at 8 pm.

More: Ryan Paevey talks Nathan’s General Hospital return

Christmas Sail

Liz (Katee Sackhoff) is determined to give her daughter a perfect Christmas while returning home to take care of her estranged father and manages to reconnect with her best friend as well. See the premiere on Sunday, October 31, at 8 pm.

Gingerbread Miracle

Two high school friends (Merritt Patterson and Jon Ecker) work together to sell his uncle’s Mexican bakery, which is known for its magical gingerbread cookies. Watch the premiere on Friday, November 5, at 8 pm.

Next Stop, Christmas

Wondering how her life would have turned out had she married a former boyfriend (Chandler Massey) who became a famous sportscaster, Angie (Lyndsy Fonseca) takes a train home and finds herself 10 years in the past. With the advice of the enigmatic conductor, Angie is able to discover what is truly important. One Life to Live’s Erika Slezak (Viki), along with Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson, also stars. Go back in time on Saturday, November 6, at 8 pm.

A Christmas Treasure

Lou (American Idol winner Jordin Sparks) opens a 100-year-old time capsule and finds her grandfather’s journal, which leads her to question whether she should further her writing career or stay in Pine Grove to carry on her family’s newspaper. Also at a crossroads, a chef named Kyle (Michael Xavier) arrives in town and the connection they have is the key to their future plans. Tune in Sunday, November 7, at 8 pm.

Open by Christmas

Nicky (Alison Sweeney) finds an unopened Christmas card from a high school secret admirer, and with the help of her best friend Simone, the girls search to find the anonymous sender. Hallmark fave Brennan Elliott also stars. Watch the mystery on Friday, November 12, at 8 pm.

More: Alison Sweeney shares photo of Hallmark Christmas movie

My Christmas Family Tree

Vanesa (Aimee Teegarden) discovers a family that she didn’t know existed after she receives the results of a DNA search. Andrew Walker also stars. Tune in Saturday, November 13, at 8 pm.

A Holiday in Harlem

Jazmin travels home to be with her grandmother and ends up taking over as co-chair, with her old friend, of the block’s annual Christmas Jamboree. The movie airs Sunday, November 14 at 8 pm.

Nantucket Noel

Taylor butts heads with the son of a developer (Days of Our Lives alum Trevor Donovan, ex-Jeremy) that is threatening to tear down the wharf that houses the location of her toy store. Tune in Friday, November 19, at 8 pm.

A Christmas Together With You

Megan and the man she thinks of as her father take a journey to find his long lost love. Little does she know she’ll find hers along the way. Watch it unfold on Saturday, November 20 at 8 pm.

A Kiss Before Christmas

After making a casual wish, Ethan’s life takes on a new reality. However, his wife, the one he no longer finds himself married to, is the key to getting his old life back. The premiere airs Sunday, November 21, at 8 pm.

The Nine Kittens of Christmas

Speaking of sequels, firefighter Zachary (Brandon Routh) and veterinarian Marilee (Kimberley Sustad) are reunited at Christmas in order to find homes for a litter of kittens. General Hospital’s Gregory Harrison (Gregory ) also stars. Set your DVR for Thursday, November 25, at 8 pm.

Christmas CEO

A small toy company CEO will need her estranged ex-business partner’s signature in order to merge with a mega toy company. What he helps her discovery will change their lives for good. The movie airs Friday, November 26, at 6 pm.

An Unexpected Christmas

A writer (Tyler Hynes) works to get his ex-girlfriend (Bethany Joy Lenz, Guiding Light’s Michelle) to pretend to be a couple for the holidays. Tune in Friday, November 26, at 8 pm.

Making Spirits Bright

In an attempt to mend their fathers’ decades-old feud, the son and daughter of rival holiday decorators find love along the way. The premiere airs Saturday, November 27, at 6 pm.

Christmas at Castle Hart

Brooke Bennett (Lacey Chabert) takes a Christmas trip to Ireland to search for her Irish roots and meets Aiden Hart, Earl of Glaslough (Stuart Townsend), who mistakes her for an elite event planner to host his castle’s majestic Christmas party. Tune in Saturday November 27, at 8pm.

Christmas in Tahoe

Claire must turn to her ex-boyfriend for help in saving her family’s hotel Christmas show. Watch the movie on Sunday, November 28, at 6 pm.

The Christmas Contest

Exes Lara (Candace Cameron Bure) and Ben (John Brotherton) battle it out in a Christmas contest for charity, but in the end, they have to choose what’s more important, victory or love. Chesapeake Shores actress and soap alum Barbara Niven (Megan) also stars as Donna. Tune in Sunday, November 28, at 8 pm.

More: Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas book is a must-own

Eight Gifts of Hanukkah

A woman sets out on a journey to find her secret admirer during Hanukkah. Watch the movie on Friday, December 3, at 8 pm.

A Very Merry Bridesmaid

Leah’s childhood crush (Casey Deidrick) is back in town for her brother’s wedding, the same day as her 30th birthday. Tune in Saturday, December 4 , at 8 pm.

Sister Swap Double Feature

Real-life sisters Ashley Williams and Kimberly Williams-Paisley star in the double feature, Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday and Sister Swap: Christmas in the City as Jennifer and Meg Swift. Though Jennifer runs a successful restaurant started with her late husband, she returns to her hometown, where Meg has remained. However, Meg heads to Salt Lake City to help Jennifer’s restaurant staff prepare for a Christmas competition while her sister and her son enjoy one more Christmas at the town’s local theatre, which is up for sale and in need of repairs. During their separate adventures, both realize what they really need. The first movie airs on Sunday, December 5, at 8 pm, while the second airs on Sunday, December 12, at 8 pm.

And the second feature…

A Dickens of a Holiday

Cassie invites her former high school castmate, who’s now a movie star, to play Scrooge in A Christmas Carol for their town’s Victorian festival. Watch the premiere on Friday, December 10, at 8 pm.

A Royal Queens Christmas

A woman in Queens enlists a royal prince’s help with a children’s Christmas show. Tune in Saturday, December 11, at 8 pm.

Sugar Plum Twist

A ballerina Natalia returns home to Richmond and works with a ballet student who has a flare for Latin dance. Tune in on Friday, December 17, at 8 pm.

The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls

Jonathan Bennett, Robert Buckley, Ana Ayora, Sharon Lawrence, Treat Williams and Brad Harder return for the much-antipicated sequel, as the Mitchell brothers go toe-to-toe to see who can create the best Christmas House. Premiere date still to come.

‘Tis the Season to be Merry

Merry heads to Vermont to look for a fresh angle on her book and finds a new perspective with an aid worker named Chris. The movie airs Sunday, December 19, at 8 pm.

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Video: Hallmark Channel/YouTube