Alison Sweeney has been making Hallmark movies long enough to know that the secret ingredient in the network’s success is its legion of loyal, enthusiastic fans. But Sweeney’s filming and family schedules often keep her from attending the network’s massive fan events, she told EntertainmentNow.
That’s why the “Hannah Swensen Mysteries” star is so excited that for the first time, she’ll be part of the talent lineup for the just-announced 2026 Hallmark Christmas Experience in Kansas City. Sweeney can’t wait to meet fans and hang with her fellow Hallmark stars during the holiday extravaganza’s second weekend, December 4-6.
The “Days of Our Lives” alum did draw one line in the sand when it comes to attending fan events, though. Sweeney prefers to stick to venues on solid ground, adorably admitting that while she’s pumped for this year’s Hallmark Christmas Experience, she’ll likely never climb aboard the equally popular Hallmark Christmas Cruise.
Alison Sweeney Explains Why Her Filming Schedule Often Gets in the Way of Attending Holiday Fan Events
HallmarkOn May 16, Sweeney stars in “Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery,” her 14th movie in the cozy mystery franchise. And though she still adores writing, producing, and starring in each cozy mystery, she admitted her jam-packed schedule and shooting each film in Vancouver has definitely resulted in some serious FOMO as she sees friends having a blast with fans and each other.
“I’m so anxious to get to be part of some of these events,” she told EntertainmentNow. “I’m always so jealous — I see them on Instagram, and I’m like, ‘I wanna be there!'”
But with many fan events scheduled during the holiday season, Sweeney said it hasn’t worked out with her schedule until this year.
“It always turns out that I’m filming,” she said. “Every year, I am there (during the holiday season). Last year, I didn’t even have Thanksgiving at home with my family. It always comes down to the crews, and scheduling, and air dates.”
“And then, of course, I’m scheduling around … all my kids’ other activities,” Sweeney laughed. “There’s an event at school, or there’s a thing we want to do — a fall break, a winter break, or whatever. So, I plan to film around those dates, and the next thing you know, you get caught in a complicated situation where you end up having to film in the winter. So that’s why it’s been tricky (to attend the events).”
Alison Sweeney Probably Won’t Be Aboard Any Hallmark Christmas Cruises — or Any Cruise For That Matter!
Sweeney, who lives in Arizona with her family, is pumped to experience so many Hallmark fans and stars in Kansas City this holiday season, but when it comes to the popular Hallmark Christmas Cruises, with thousands of fans sailing the high seas with their favorite rom-com stars, Sweeney’s a hard no.
In fact, when Arizona TV reporter Yvette Gibson recently asked Sweeney to name one thing she wouldn’t do even for a million dollars, the actress replied, “A cruise. Those big cruises? I get sea sick … I don’t know if I could.”
When EntertainmentNow asked if Sweeney was sure she’d pass up a cool million, she held pretty firm, laughing, “It was sort of tongue in cheek. It was the first thing that came to mind! You know, I love traveling, I love adventures, I love being in different countries. I love that kind of experience … but I don’t need the boat.”
“I mean, sorry, but I will leave the cruise shipping to Ben Ayres,” Sweeney quipped, referencing her “Love & Jane” and “Chronicle Mysteries” co-star, who has not only been aboard multiple Hallmark Christmas Cruises, but will also set sail in January 2027 on a cruise for the Romance University online community he founded.
To meet Sweeney and others on solid ground at the Hallmark Christmas Experience in December, the ticket pre-sale kicks off on May 14 with early-bird pricing (use the code HCE2026) and tickets open to the general public on May 18.
Meanwhile, “Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery” premieres on Hallmark Channel on May 16 at 8 p.m. Eastern time, and will be available to stream via Hallmark+ starting the following the day.
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