Cullman Named Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town Contest Finalist

Cullman, Alabama, is having a major holiday moment. It could lead to something even bigger than glowing rooftops, towering trees, and packed seasonal streets.

The city just landed among 25 finalists in Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town Contest. That puts its beloved Christmas in Cullman celebration in the national spotlight.

Now, public voting could help turn this festive Southern spot into the ultimate Hallmark holiday fantasy. There’s even a chance Cullman could become a filming location for a future Hallmark movie, which honestly seems almost too perfect.

Cullman Just Landed on Hallmark’s Most Festive List

If you’re a fan of twinkling lights, charming downtowns, and unapologetically cheerful holiday traditions, Cullman might just be your new must-visit. The Alabama city officially earned a spot among Hallmark’s top 25 Merriest Christmas Town finalists—a nod to communities that really know how to turn the season into something special.

Mayor Woody Jacobs called the recognition a huge honor for everyone in town. He emphasized that Christmas in Cullman is special because residents, businesses, volunteers, and city leaders all team up to make the magic happen.

That sense of shared effort is what makes a holiday town feel less like a display and more like a place where you can step inside a living Christmas card. It’s a vibe you can’t manufacture.

A National Stage for a Small-Town Holiday Spectacle

Landing in the top 25 is more than just a festive pat on the back. It puts Cullman in front of a national audience right when holiday travel is booming for towns with memorable seasonal programming.

Hallmark has pretty much built an empire around cozy small-town settings, unexpected romance, and decorated storefronts. There’s just something about that feeling that Christmas can fix almost anything, right?

Cullman seems to get it. Every year, its historic downtown turns into a glowing, immersive holiday destination—lights everywhere, and visitors shopping, dining, and celebrating under a festive canopy.

It’s honestly the kind of scene that makes you reach for your camera before you’ve even parked.

The Vote Could Bring an Even Bigger Hallmark Surprise

The contest is now in the public voting phase. Cullman fans can vote once per day on the Hallmark website until September 4, using an email address to participate.

That daily vote? It matters. The grand prize could change everything: the winning town becomes Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town and might even get to host a Hallmark movie shoot.

For a city that already looks camera-ready, that just feels right. Can you imagine seeing Cullman’s downtown on TV?

Imagine a Hallmark Movie Filmed in Downtown Cullman

You can almost picture it. A big-city event planner comes home for the holidays. A local shop owner is fighting to save a cherished Christmas tradition.

Snow in Alabama? Maybe not, but a little movie magic can fix that. Throw in a giant tree, a sparkling downtown, a German market, and a charming local love interest—suddenly, the script writes itself.

A Hallmark movie filmed in Cullman would show off the city to people who might never have considered Alabama for a winter getaway. It’s a chance to put its historic streets, independent businesses, and holiday personality in front of millions who tune in for those cozy seasonal movies every year.

Why Christmas in Cullman Has Become Such a Massive Draw

Cullman isn’t new to the holiday tourism scene. Christmas in Cullman has grown into a yearly attraction that brings visitors from across the country. It’s proof that a well-done seasonal celebration can become a serious reason to travel.

Last year, more than 415,000 visitors came to see it all for themselves. That’s a wild number for a city with such a small-town feel.

These guests do a lot more than just stroll through the lights. They book hotel rooms, fill up restaurant tables, and shop local—bringing a burst of energy to downtown during what used to be a quiet season.

Cullman Area Tourism Director Harmony Heard said visitors arrive from nearly every state, which shows just how far the word has spread.

The Details That Make Visitors Feel Like They Have Entered a Holiday Movie

The best Christmas destinations offer more than a single photo op, and Cullman’s built a whole seasonal vibe around its historic core. You can wander streets framed by glowing rooftops, check out decorated storefronts, and admire the giant Christmas tree that anchors the downtown experience.

There’s also the Cullman Christkindlmarkt, a real-deal German Christmas market honoring the city’s founding families. That heritage gives the festivities a little extra heart.

Instead of copying a generic winter display, the market connects the celebration to Cullman’s own story. Plus, who doesn’t love the old-world charm of a European-style Christmas market?

• Glowing rooftops that make downtown feel transformed after dark
• Decorated storefronts that invite visitors to shop local while soaking in the scenery
• A giant Christmas tree that creates a classic centerpiece for holiday photos
• The Cullman Christkindlmarkt, celebrating the German roots of the community
• A walkable historic downtown designed for lingering, exploring, and celebrating

Every Top 25 Town Gets a Hallmark Boost

Even if Cullman doesn’t win it all, being a finalist brings a real promotional boost. Each top 25 community gets an Official Hallmark Christmas Town title, which is a serious brag for future tourism and holiday marketing.

The selected towns also get a 2026 digital seal, plus social media and marketing templates to help spread the word. Hallmark-approved Countdown to Christmas assets—images, logos, and messaging—will be available for local promotions tied to the network’s famous holiday programming.

That Hallmark Seal Could Be a Tourism Game Changer

For a city that’s already proven it can draw crowds, the Hallmark connection could add even more momentum. Travelers love holiday getaways that feel unique, family-friendly, and Instagram-worthy. That Hallmark label? It checks all those boxes.

It gives Cullman a leg up in a crowded field of Christmas attractions. Sure, lots of places decorate and host events, but a Hallmark Christmas Town has instant pop-culture appeal. It tells visitors the lights aren’t just pretty—they’re part of a destination with national credibility.

Cullman Is Asking Its Community to Finish the Job

CPRST Executive Director Nathan Anderson celebrated the top 25 placement. He encouraged everyone in Cullman to rally behind the next stage of the contest.

His message was simple—Cullman’s already done something worth celebrating. But honestly, this is a city that knows what can happen when folks get behind a shared goal.

That community spirit? It might just be Cullman’s biggest advantage. The decorations are dazzling, and the market is memorable.

The visitor numbers are impressive, sure, but the real story is the people who make it all happen. If daily voters show up with the same enthusiasm that fuels Christmas in Cullman every year, who knows—maybe this Alabama town is one step closer to becoming the holiday capital viewers didn’t know they needed.