It may be mid-August, but Hanover is already looking a lot like Christmas.
The York County borough has been officially named one of 25 national finalists in the Hallmark Channel’s contest to find America’s “Merriest Christmas Town.” The recognition places Hanover in the running to serve as the real-world backdrop for an upcoming original Hallmark Channel holiday movie.
The selection comes after a nationwide search by Hallmark to identify communities that embody the spirit of the season through downtown charm, community goodwill, and rich holiday traditions.
The bid, organized by Main Street Hanover alongside independent nominations from local residents, highlights the borough’s deep-rooted holiday festivities.
At the center of Hanover’s entry is its historic Santa Cabin tradition, which dates back to 1939. Rebuilt by community volunteers in 2018, the cabin serves as the focal point for the annual “Christmas in Hanover” festival, held each year on Small Business Saturday. The festival features the town’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a Santa parade, local artisan shopping, and letters written directly to children by local volunteers acting on Santa’s behalf.
Hanover is competing against 24 other finalists across the country, including seaside resort destinations like Cape May, New Jersey, and mountain retreats like Leavenworth, Washington.
The winning town will be decided through a combination of public voting and evaluation by a panel of Hallmark judges scoring communities on neighborhood charm, community spirit, and holiday goodwill.
Voting Window: The public voting period opened on August 14 and runs through September 4.
How to Vote: Supporters can cast one vote per day by visiting the official contest portal at merriestchristmastownscontest.hallmarkchannel.com.
The grand prize winner will be announced later this fall ahead of Hallmark’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” programming lineup.
