Riverbank Seeks Extras for Hallmark Christmas Movie Filming

A small Northern California city is finally getting its moment in the holiday spotlight. The buzz around Riverbank feels like a scene straight out of a made-for-TV Christmas classic.

Riverbank has become the unexpected backdrop for a festive new film. Movie fans, Hallmark devotees, and curious locals are all eager to catch a glimpse of a little movie magic in action.

With twinkling lights, fake snow, and an open call for everyday folks to become extras, this production has transformed an ordinary winter week into something pretty special.

When a Small Town Becomes a Christmas Movie Set

Riverbank’s Plaza del Rio Park, usually a quiet spot for community events, has been reimagined as a glowing holiday wonderland. Crews have filled the downtown area with artificial snow, lighting rigs, and a flurry of activity that makes it feel like Christmas Eve came early.

This transformation is all for a new Christmas movie called The Ornament. It’s a seasonal story about tradition, community, and restoring the holiday spirit after disaster strikes.

For locals and visitors, it’s a rare peek behind the scenes at how these cozy, feel-good films are actually made.

A Plaza Filled With Lights, Cameras, and Snow

The production took over the park and nearby streets, carefully staging a Christmas tree lighting scene. Crew members blocked scenes, adjusted lighting, and coordinated movement as cameras rolled late into the night.

The setup was striking, especially when you consider real California winter weather versus the full-on festive illusion created for the camera. Snow blanketed the plaza, decorations sparkled, and every detail worked to sell the idea of a classic winter town square.

The Call for Extras That Sparked Community Excitement

One of the most exciting parts? Locals were invited to join in. Instead of just hiring professional extras, the filmmakers encouraged people from Riverbank and nearby towns to show up and be part of the fun.

This not only made the scenes more authentic, but it also turned filming into a real community event. Families, friends, and plenty of onlookers gathered downtown, hoping to spot themselves on camera.

Ugly Sweaters and Holiday Spirit Required

Extras were told to go all-out with holiday gear, digging out those festive items usually packed away after December. The more colorful and cheerful, the better.

• Ugly Christmas sweaters
• Scarves and winter hats
• Red jackets and holiday-themed outerwear
• Anything that screams Christmas cheer

The goal was simple: make Riverbank look and feel like a town wrapped in holiday spirit. The right wardrobe would help the scene pop on screen.

The Heart of the Story: Fixing Christmas

At its core, The Ornament follows a familiar but beloved holiday formula. The story centers on a town whose Christmas nativity scene and festive square are destroyed by a storm, threatening to cancel the season entirely.

A communal effort follows, as everyone pitches in to rebuild not just decorations, but hope, tradition, and togetherness. It’s the kind of premise that’s made holiday movies a perennial favorite—especially for folks who keep coming back for that dose of warmth and reassurance.

A Storm, a Nativity, and a Second Chance

The storm’s destruction kicks off the emotional journey. With Christmas at risk, the characters have to come together to restore what was lost.

Scenes like the tree lighting at Plaza del Rio Park mark the turning point, where the town starts to reclaim its holiday joy. It’s a visual payoff for anyone who loves seeing a community rally together.

Familiar Faces Lead the Festive Cast

The movie features lead actors Tom Maden and Hannah Brantley, a duo familiar to fans of TV movies. Their on-screen chemistry has worked before, making them a smart pick for a romantic holiday storyline.

Both actors bring experience in the genre, which helps deliver the sincerity and charm Christmas movie fans expect.

A Reunion After Previous Local Filming

Maden and Brantley previously worked together during a film shoot last May in Escalon and nearby areas. That earlier collaboration set the stage for their reunion in Riverbank.

For locals who remember the previous production, seeing the same actors return adds another layer of excitement. It’s a nice boost for the region’s reputation as a welcoming spot for film crews.

From Riverbank to Your Living Room

Though filming feels intimate and local, the distribution plans are anything but small. The movie is expected to land on either The Hallmark Channel or GAC, Great American Media—both major players in the holiday movie world.

So Riverbank’s plaza, streets, and residents could soon be seen by millions during the 2026 holiday season.

A 2026 Holiday Release to Watch For

The film is set for release during the 2026 Christmas season, giving the team plenty of time to polish things up. It’ll be released through Nicely Entertainment and Sprocketless Entertainment, a Modesto-based company.

This partnership blends national reach with local roots, combining professional distribution with plenty of hometown pride.

Why Christmas Movies Keep Choosing Small Towns

Riverbank’s turn in the spotlight isn’t random. Holiday films love small towns because they already have what these stories need: closeness, tradition, and a strong sense of community.

The architecture, walkable downtowns, and civic spaces like Plaza del Rio Park make for ready-made sets that just look right on camera.

Community as the Real Star

In productions like this, the town itself becomes a character. The extras—most of them locals—add a realism you just can’t fake on a soundstage.

For Riverbank, it means more than just a fun night of filming. It creates memories and a sense of pride that’ll linger long after the last decoration comes down.

A Holiday Memory That Will Last Beyond the Snow

By the time The Ornament airs, viewers might only catch a few minutes of those Plaza del Rio Park scenes. For the folks who were actually there, bundled up in festive sweaters under bright lights, it all felt a lot bigger than what’ll show up on screen.

That’s the real magic of making a holiday movie. For Riverbank, fixing Christmas wasn’t just a story—it was something the whole town got to live through together.