Ivy Wells: ‘We’re exactly what they’re looking for – a small town that looks like a movie set’

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Aug. 20, 2026) Berlin’s charming aesthetic has earned the town an “Official Christmas Town” title by the Hallmark Channel and the chance to be featured in a holiday movie.

Last week, the Hallmark Channel released its top 25 Merriest Christmas Towns as part of its contest to secure a festive spot for a new holiday flick. Berlin was named among the finalists, the only municipality in Maryland to receive the honor.

The Hallmark Channel spent the last few months searching the country for towns that go the extra mile to create Christmas cheer for residents and visitors as part of the network’s 25th anniversary.

These locations, announced last Friday, are now vying for a chance to be named Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town and be highlighted in an official Hallmark film. The top 25 destinations have advanced to the competition’s public voting phase. Each entry is available for viewing on the Hallmark Channel’s website, where voters trcan select their favorite.

Besides the Eastern Shore spot, other towns in the running for the ultimate prize include Cape May, New Jersey; Carolina Beach, North Carolina; Corning, New York; Hanover, Pennsylvania; Lewisburg, West Virginia; Cullman, Alabama; and Chatham, Massachusetts.

Hallmark approached Berlin to enter the contest, said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director. The Worcester County municipality has maintained a reputation for picturesque streets and historic buildings, citizen pride, and well-attended, traditional holiday festivities, which caught the network’s eye.

Berlin’s official description on the Hallmark Channel’s website specifically mentions some of the town’s popular Christmas celebrations. Among them is the tree-lighting ceremony, with coastal-themed ornaments decorated by the area’s students.

“Every December, we gather around a real Christmas tree, cut from a local farm and placed in the heart of Main Street,” Berlin’s contest entry page reads. “Before the lights are ever switched on, our schoolchildren decorate it with hand-painted oyster shell ornaments, celebrating our coastal heritage one ornament at a time. When the pipes and drums begin to play at our annual tree lighting, the whole community gathers, and the season officially begins.”

Also listed to prove Berlin’s commitment to Christmas are the Kringle Cottage, where kids can visit with Santa; the seasonal carriage rides offered every year; the ice sculptures that make up Ice Ice Berlin; the Merry Marketplace for handmade gifts; and the beloved Christmas parade.

“The largest nighttime Christmas parade in Maryland is right here in Berlin,” the contest website adds. “More than 85 illuminated floats, marching bands, community groups, and thousands of spectators turn Main Street into a river of light, laughter, and unforgettable memories.”

Wells told the Bayside Gazette this week that she believes Berlin would be the perfect setting for a Hallmark movie.

“Berlin already looks like it belongs in a Christmas movie, so we’re going to embrace that and show Hallmark we’re exactly what they’re looking for,” she said. “We know how to do Christmas in Berlin. We’re not a movie set pretending to be a small town. We’re a small town that looks like a movie set.”

If Berlin wins, that recognition will be added to the list of honors bestowed on the community:  it was named one of America’s “Most Charming Christmas Towns by “Travel Leisure,” one of America’s Best Small Towns for Christmas by “Country Living,” and was voted America’s Coolest Small Town by Budget Travel in 2014.

People who wish to vote for Berlin can cast ballots on the Hallmark Channel’s website through Sept. 4. Voters are required to enter their email addresses. A message will then be sent to the email inbox to confirm the selection.

While community participation matters, the town that receives the most ballots does not automatically win. Wells said that upon the conclusion of the community selection period, judges will evaluate the 25 towns based on community spirit, holiday traditions, neighborhood charm, and goodwill to decide which location will be named Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town of 2026.