Though October has just begun, Hallmark Channel is already gearing up to celebrate the festive season in full swing.

Today, October 18, marks the start of Hallmark’s renowned Countdown to Christmas event, featuring a fresh lineup of holiday films, TV shows, and more over the next two months. Every Saturday and Sunday until December 22, viewers can enjoy new movie premieres, while Fridays and Mondays are set for new episodes of both scripted and unscripted holiday series.

With a wealth of holiday spirit on the horizon, it’s a perfect opportunity for those without cable to plan how they’ll join in the festivities this year. To discover more about the Countdown to Christmas schedule, including this week’s key releases, continue reading.

How to watch Hallmark Channel for Free:

To catch Countdown to Christmas live on Hallmark without cable, a live TV streaming service is your best bet. We suggest trying DIRECTV, which offers a five-day free trial before any charges apply.

DIRECTV provides various subscription options, such as Genre Packs, allowing you to tailor your streaming experience to suit your preferences and budget. Subscription plans begin at $49.99 per month.

What’s on Countdown to Christmas This Weekend (Oct. 17-19)?

• Mistletoe Murders Season 1

  Cast: Sarah Drew, Peter Mooney

  Based on the Audible original, Mistletoe Murders follows Emily Lane, the owner of a year-round Christmas themed store with a big secret: she finds herself compelled to investigate local murders. As Emily begins her own investigations, Detective Sam Wilner — a local cop with a crush on Emily — begins to wonder if there’s more to Emily than meets the eye.

  • Episode 1: “Poison in a Pear Tree – Part 1” – Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. ET
  • Episode 2: “Poison in a Pear Tree – Part 2” – Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. ET
  • Episode 3: “Peril of the Belles – Part 1” – Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. ET
  • Episode 4: “Peril of the Belles – Part 2” – Oct. 24 at 9 p.m. ET
  • Episode 5: “Death of a Humbug – Part 1” – Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. ET
  • Episode 6: “Death of a Humbug – Part 2” – Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. ET

• A Royal Montana Christmas (Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. ET)

  Cast: Fiona Gubelmann, Warren Christie

  Princess Victoria of Zelarnia is ready for a change of pace, so she decides to decompress and vacation at the Peaceful Pines Ranch in Montana, where she celebrated Christmas as a child with her late father. Unaware that she is a princess, her guide Huntley puts Victoria through the paces, introducing her to ranch life. As Christmas approaches and the two fall for each other, Victoria must decide if she should return to Zelarnia and royal duties or stay on the ranch in Montana with Huntley.

• A Christmas Angel Match (Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. ET)

  Cast: Meghan Ory, Benjamin Ayres

  Monical and Michael are Christmas Angels with one job: bringing destined soulmates together during the most wonderful time of the year. Usually they work alone, but the threat of downsizing forces them together to ensure Daisy and Patrick fall in love before Christmas. The pairing leads to unexpected connection and an undeniable spark between the two Angels.

Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 2025 Full Schedule:

All movies premiere at 8 p.m. ET unless otherwise noted.

October

• Oct. 17 – Mistletoe Murders Series premiere
• Oct. 18 – A Royal Montana Christmas
• Oct. 19 – A Christmas Angel Match
• Oct. 25 – Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!
• Oct. 26 – Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane (4 p.m. ET)
• Oct. 26 – Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane (6 p.m. ET)
• Oct. 26 – Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane (8 p.m. ET)
• Oct. 27 – Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2 premiere
• Oct. 27 – Baked with Love: Holiday Series premiere (9 p.m. ET)

November

• Nov. 1 – Christmas on Duty
• Nov. 2 – A Newport Christmas
• Nov. 7 – Mistletoe Murders Season 2 premiere
• Nov. 8 – Christmas Above the Clouds
• Nov. 9 – A Keller Christmas Vacation
• Nov. 15 – Three Wisest Men
• Nov. 16 – Tidings for the Season
• Nov. 22 – Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story
• Nov. 23 – Melt My Heart This Christmas
• Nov. 27 – We Met in December
• Nov. 28 – The Snow Must Go On (6 p.m. ET)
• Nov. 28 – The More the Merrier
• Nov. 29 – An Alpine Holiday (6 p.m. ET)
• Nov. 29 – A Grand Ole Opry Christmas
• Nov. 30 – The Christmas Cup (6 p.m. ET)
• Nov. 30 – Christmas at the Catnip Cafe

December

• Dec. 5 – Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas Series premiere
• Dec. 6 – She’s Making A List
• Dec. 7 – Single on the 25th
• Dec. 13 – A Suite Holiday Romance
• Dec. 14 – Oy to the World!
• Dec. 20 – A Make or Break Holiday
• Dec. 20 – Finding Mr. Christmas reunion (10 p.m. ET)
• Dec. 21 – The Christmas Baby
• Dec. 22 – Ready, Set, Glow! Series premiere (7 p.m. ET)

Why Trust Decider Shopping

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Decider, the New York Post, and Page Six. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, how to watch your favorite sports teams and movies on each streaming service and the very best in tech, like soundbars, to enhance your viewing experience. Not only does Angela test and compare the services, devices and merch she writes about, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and the New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews. 

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