Great American Media Announces 'Immersive' Christmas Festival Featuring Actor Meet & Greets
Christmas movie fans will be able to visit the live entertainment village at New York's UBS Arena this winter from Nov. 20 to Jan. 5
UBS Arena/Dennis DaSilva
ictured left to right: Jon Ledecky, Co-Owner, NHL's New York Islanders, actress and TV star, Danica McKellar, and Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media.Great American Family fans can now experience a Christmas celebration like the ones featured in so many of the channel's TV movies — and meet some of their favorite stars.
In an announcement shared on Friday, July 19, Great American Media announced that it would be hosting the "Great American Family Christmas Festival" this winter, in celebration of its fans, its Christmas films and its biggest stars.
According to a press release from the company, the festival — which is being held in partnership with the UBS Arena, the NHL's New York Islanders and CandyRock Entertainment (headed up by its CEO, Bill Abbott, and former Full House star Candace Cameron Bure) — will take place from Nov. 20 to Jan. 5 this winter at the UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., just outside of New York City.
Related: What Is Great American Family? Everything to Know About the Hallmark Channel Competitor
UBS Arena/Dennis DaSilva
Pictured left to right: Jon Ledecky, Co-Owner, NHL's New York Islanders, actress and TV star, Danica McKellar, and Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media."We all look forward to the holidays as a time to be together with our families and make new memories," Bure said in the press release. "And it is what this Christmas Festival is all about. We're so happy to give families a new opportunity to experience joy, play together, and celebrate this season."
Great American Media added that the festival's activities will include movie premieres, shopping, food and drink, photo ops that they say are "TikTok-worthy," and even meet-and-greets with the stars of some of the network's most popular movies. Also included are a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, "Santa's Crafting Village" and live entertainment.
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"Over the past decade, my team and I have envisioned a Christmas Festival that will attract people from far and wide and offer fans a chance to meet the stars of our movies and immerse themselves in a one-of-a-kind festive experience," Abbott added in the release.
"Between Islanders Ownership, who have an unparalleled commitment to the guest experience at UBS Arena, our Chief Creative Officer Candace Cameron Bure and her team at CandyRock Entertainment, and our terrific roster of talent, this partnership is poised to deliver the nation's premier holiday event, not just this year, but for many seasons to come," he continued.
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Great American Family has been a top competitor against the Hallmark Channel — and its many Christmas movies and themed cruises — since its launch in 2021. That year, the network announced that several of its stars including Danica McKellar, Trevor Donovan, Lori Loughlin and Bure would be leaving Hallmark and signing deals with them instead. Since then, the network has produced dozens of Christmas and family movies, and this festival marks its first venture into live entertainment.
Fans interested in tickets celebrity appearance dates can find more information at www.greatamericanchristmasfestival.com.
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