Where was The Best Christmas Pageant Ever filmed? Filming locations and more details explored

Modified Dec 22, 2024 09:03 GMT

Lionsgate's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever hit theaters on November 8, 2024. The Dallas Jenkins-directed film adapts Barbara Robinson's beloved 1972 novel under the same name.

The movie follows Grace Bradley's journey as she reluctantly takes over Director's position at the annual Christmas pageant, after Mrs. Armstrong meets with an accident. The mischievous Herdman siblings are cast in major roles in a play even though they know nothing about Christmas.

As practice goes on, the Herdmans learn more about what the festival is really about. They make friends they didn't expect to and the kids and the whole community change in a heartwarming way.

Winnipeg, a Canadian province in Manitoba, served as the primary filming location for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, as it captured the small-town charm essential to the story. The city’s diverse landscapes provided the perfect backdrop for the film’s setting.

Filming locations of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever's team started shooting in snowy weather in In Winnipeg, Manitoba. The filmmakers aimed to create a setting for Christmas-themed story, thanks to Winnipeg's architecture and snow-clad scenery.

Producer Kevin Downes posted a video on his Facebook account on December 9, 2023, where he had completed one week of shooting in Canada. Some of the important pageant scenes were filmed here, mostly in local churches and community centers.

The church was featured during the holiday celebrations and pageant practices. The production team also filmed at a number of residential areas to depict where the Herdman and Bradley families lived.

The executive producer, Jenkins, told Deadline on December 12, 2023:

“I have been pursuing this project for 15 years, so to actually be on the set is a special moment. I’m especially grateful to be working with Judy and Pete, who are extraordinary talents and are already showing their mastery of the drama and the comedy. And the actors playing all the kids, including the Herdmans? I’ve been blown away,”

Real elementary schools in Winnipeg were showcased for dress rehearsals in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Outdoor scenes were filmed in parks and other public places across the city.

Combining urban and natural landscapes, Manitoba indoor venues such as local theaters with controlled lighting and sound brought the narrative to life.

Plot of the movie

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever focuses on The Herdman siblings, who are known for making trouble in their small town. The story starts when Judy Greer's character, Grace Bradley.

Grace assumes the position of Director at the annual Christmas pageant when Mrs. Armstrong, who had been in charge for a long time, meets with an accident. Grace's daughter, Beth, and Charlie, her younger brother, are both nervous about going to the pageant because the Herdmans are involved.

Once Charlie mistakenly tells one of the Herdman boys that the church provides snacks, all six siblings show up to help with the pageant. Despite their unfamiliarity with the Christmas story, they play Mary, Joseph, and the Wise Men, turning the production upside down.

The Herdmans question Christmas' true meaning as they adjust to their new roles. Grace and Beth use this opportunity to break down barriers between the Herdmans and the community, resulting in unexpected friendships and a stronger Christmas spirit.

Cast

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The movie features the following cast members:

Judy Greer as Grace Bradley
Pete Holmes as Bob Bradley
Molly Belle Wright as Beth Bradley
Lauren Graham as the Narrator / Older Beth Bradley
Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman
Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez as Charlie Bradley
Matthew Lamb as Claude Herdman
Essek Moore as Ollie Herdman
Kirk B.R. Woller as Reverend Hopkins
Ewan Matthys Wood as Leroy Herdman
Mason D. Nelligan as Ralph Herdman
Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman
Nolan Grantham as Elmer Hopkins
Vanessa Benavente as First-grade Teacher
Lorelei Olivia Mote as Alice Wendelken
Danielle Hoetmer as Mrs. Wendelken

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.