Christmas Con 2022 : Emotions and disappointment

Over two months after returning from New Jersey where I attended the 2022 Christmas Con, it’s time to share my thoughts on this event. On that Sunday afternoon, I made myself some hot cocoa and watched a Christmas movie. Nothing better to get me in the mood and tell you all about it.

What is the Christmas Con?

Christmas Con is a paradise for fans of the Hallmark Channel but also of competing channels like GAC Family or UpTV. If you are a Christmas movie freak, this is the place to go to meet your favorite stars. But not only since many of them appeared in famous TV shows or movies before. More than 30 celebrities were announced for the three days of the event among them Chad Michael Murray, Jesse Metcalfe, Jonathan Bennett, Melissa Joan Hart, Lacey Chabert, Bethany Joy Lenz, Marc Blucas, James Denton, Nikki DeLoach, Jessica Lowndes, Autumn Reeser or Jack Wagner.

Christmas Con is similar to a ‘classic’ convention. It means that the venue is in a space that can accommodate a lot of people. Often a convention center, a conference or exhibition hall that is not very warm. The place is divided into distinct areas, in this case the entrance with the ticketing booth, the food court ($), the main stage, the vendor booths, the photo ops ($), the secondary stage and finally the celebrity area for meeting the actors and actresses. In this area, phones and cameras are prohibited. And this is where you can exchange a few words with the guests (for free), ask them for a selfie, a video or an autograph ($).

You have to make choices throughout the weekend because the panels, the photo sessions and the meet & greets are all happening at the same time. It is not possible to attend all the activities over the three days.

How does it work to meet an actress or an actor?

The main attraction of the Christmas Con is the meet and greet with the celebrities. Their booths are open from 10am to about 6pm, at the discretion of each actor or actress. During this time, they may have to leave for an hour to participate in a panel and then another hour for a photo session or take a break. Depending on the popularity of the artist and the moment of the day, the waiting lines are longer or shorter. My advice is to start the day with the celebrity you want to meet first. A few rounds from your passage, a volunteer asks you what you want to do. Either a selfie ($40), an autograph ($40) or a combo of both ($70) and gives you a sticky note to present at the table. It’s time to get the money ready and only cash, no credit card or contactless payments. The prices are an average of what I observed, it may be different. If you mention that you just want to talk with the celebrity, sometimes they look at you with surprise but know that it is your right. When it’s your turn, you hand your note to the handler and he/she cashes you in. The handler is also a volunteer who is like the assistant of the actor or actress during the three days. He/she is assigned to the celebrity table and charges all the extras. Some of them are adorable and others more than unpleasant. One handler refused to let me speak with an actor without paying extra. I thought it was very inappropriate and the actor, who was adorable, apologized and exchanged a few words with me. However, I was quickly dismissed to make room for the next person who had bought a selfie. If you pay for an autograph, you can choose a printed photo available on the table or use the support of your choice. If you pay for a selfie, a phone picture will be taken by you, your friend or a volunteer. They are not too stingy and take several if you ask. It is also possible to record a short video with the actor instead of taking a picture. The encounter can last more or less depending on the length of the line or the time of the day. I would say between a few seconds and a few minutes.

Day 1 – Friday, December 9th

Now that you know the context, let me tell you about the weekend. Less than a week after attending another major and competing event, I’m on a flight back to the US. I’m here as a media guest to cover the Christmas Con event. After a quick hop to my hotel, I arrive at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center around 3pm. I go to the ticket booth to get my pass. They make me wait for almost half an hour to figure out which badge to give me. Despite the staff’s flat apology, I already have the feeling that the media situation is confusing. The day before, I received a long email with instructions, but mostly restrictions that made no sense. Basically, no video, no photos, no guarantee of talking to the guests. I was wondering how I was going to create content and promote the event. Once I got inside, I take the time to get familiar with the place, it’s very big. I wasn’t expecting this or how crowded it is and try to identify the different areas in order to organize my schedule for these three days. First, I observe the main stage and the hundreds of chairs installed in front of it. Then, I quickly wander among the vendor booths to see what they are offering. I take a look at the photo op schedules. Some are already sold out like the Andrew, Paul and Tyler trio, others are still available for purchase. It costs 60$ for a single photo, 110$ for a duo and 130$ for a trio. I finally reach the celebrities’ area where the queues are already dense and numerous. Yet on this Friday, all the actors are not there, it is supposed to be the quietest day. It scares me a little. My other concern is confirmed, there are signs and posters everywhere indicating that it is forbidden to take pictures or videos. I do a test and take out my phone, within seconds a volunteer asks me to put it away immediately. There are a lot of volunteers and people from the organization. They are everywhere.

I head out to find the folks I know, confident that they will be at Tyler Hynes‘ booth. If I can say hi to Paul at the same time, that’s fine by me. Big surprise or not, both Tyler’s lines (VIP and standard) are long and the person in charge of it says that the wait is at least 1.5 hours. I take advantage of the fact that this guy is nice to ask him if he knows which rules apply to the media. He has no idea but kindly offers me to find the information. After twenty minutes, he comes back and has no further answer for me. I resign myself to stand in line with the #Hynies, but as I get into the VIP line with them, I am asked to leave because I do not have a VIP pass! After more than an hour and a half of waiting, I finally manage to see Tyler and talk to him. I ask if he can give me some time this weekend for an interview. He says yes without hesitation and that we will find the necessary time. It cheers me up a bit. We talk briefly but I don’t want to take too much of his time, nor do I want to take a selfie that I didn’t pay for, even if he insists. I want to be professional so I politely decline and slip away. I secretly take some pictures of him and his booth for my stories. Paul Campbell is right next door and his line is almost empty. So I stand and wait (I’m still not allowed to VIP). A woman with a cameraman goes straight to the table and asks Paul to answer some questions for the TV. She has the same badge as me. He accepts and his line is interrupted for about ten minutes. Meanwhile, his handler informs us that he is going to have lunch right after so she closes the booth. She invites us to come back later. We are barely seven, the girls in front of me are disappointed. Finally, Paul agrees to continue his meetings and to eat after. It must be said that I am the last in line and nobody joined the queue. When it is my turn and I tell the handler that I want to talk to Paul for a few minutes while recording him, she automatically answers “No, he doesn’t talk to the media”. Paul, who recognized me, realizes that I am sulking. He asks what’s going on and I explain that his handler doesn’t want to let me talk to him. She defends herself by saying that these are the rules she received and that she is applying them. The rules are obviously not the same for everyone… Paul, true to himself, responds that it’s OK and that he takes the responsibility of breaking the rules. Have I ever told you how much I love Paul? I do not want him to get into trouble on my account so I drop my questions. He laughs with a “you’re not going to get me in trouble” look on his face. I improvise a short video with him, I thank him for his time and then I let him go to lunch. To end on a high note, I think it would be wonderful to meet Andrew Walker. As his lines are as long as Tyler’s, I dismayedly place myself in the standard line. A person comes to meet me and tells me that the booth is closed. It takes more than an hour to pass the people present and Andrew has his photo session after. Mary, a #Hynies who is third in the VIP line, waves me to join her, so I can take her pictures and meet Andrew at the same time. This will be my strategy for the rest of the weekend to talk to the boys whose lines will never be empty. I’m not very proud of it but I realize that if I try to be too honest, I won’t get anything. So I take the pictures of Mary and Andrew together, and introduce myself to him. Andrew and I have been chatting for a few weeks now, but we’ve never met. We are thrilled to make it happen and the connection is instantaneous. It’s amazing how Andrew makes you feel at home, it’s like talking to an old friend. He is genuine, sweet and approachable, with a smile on his face and, yes, he is very handsome. He takes my phone and records himself with it to leave a message to my mother. Then we immortalize the moment by taking a picture together.

At 5 pm, it’s time for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony with Jonathan Bennett and Lacey Chabert. There are so many people that I watch from afar. I can already see that Jonathan is quite a character, he makes a lot of jokes. The afternoon ends, it is 6 pm and I am washed out. Paul Greene and Jessica Lowndes are performing a paid concert on the main stage, I figure that it can only be nice to listen to. I don’t have a ticket and to no one’s surprise, I can’t sit down to enjoy the show. Too bad, I remain standing behind the barrier a few meters from the stage. At the end of the show, I meet Chad Maurice (not CMM haha) and I find Susan. They will be my two sidekicks during this Christmas Con. We decide to go back to Tyler’s booth because we heard that he would do overtime for those who didn’t have the chance to meet him. The booths are almost all empty, Cindy Busy is one of the last persons still there. Chad introduces us and I am amazed to discover that she speaks French. She is a Montrealer too. I’ve seen a lot of her movies and I didn’t even know. There’s no handler with her or waiting line so we’re free to chat and tell each other our lives. In addition to being all sweet and kind, Cindy wins the title of best dressed of the weekend in my opinion. I loved her style and outfits. There are no less than 30 people sitting on the floor waiting in front of Tyler’s table while the red carpet and “Haul Out The Holly” movie premiere is going on. Vanessa, who volunteers for the event, and Shannon are there too. It’s so nice to see them again in a quiet atmosphere, we wait but we mostly chat. As promised, Tyler reappears around 8:30 pm to resume his encounters, he will stay there (his handler and the volunteers assigned to his booth too) until the last person. He even offers me to do the interview before leaving but I’m tired, being up for almost 18 hours. Susan gently drives me back to my hotel and I collapse in my bed.

Day 2 – Saturday, December 10th

I can hardly hide my excitement about meeting Chad Michael Murray and Bethany Joy Lenz. One Tree Hill is a big part of my teen years. I can’t wait to see Jack Wagner as well, because of When Calls The Heart obviously. I decide to start my day by taking a look at the lineups of the different actors. The space is full, there are definitely a lot more people than yesterday. Chad’s booth is overcrowded, there are even security guards to ensure order. I dare to ask the estimated waiting time. The staff estimate a minimum of 4 hours considering the numerous activities that the comedian has to do in addition to his presence at his booth and the current queue. There’s no way I’m spending my day here… Next door Bethany has an estimate of 2.5 hours, a little bit further it’s already 3 hours for Tyler. That’s crazy!

I quickly realized that I won’t be able to do the things I had planned for those three days. Like short video interviews of the guests (I had prepared a “3 questions to…” series) and that I won’t have the necessary content for Instagram either. I decide to attend the panels, there are five scheduled today: three Q&A’s and two games presented by Jonathan Bennett. The first one is with Chad, Bethany, Jen Lilley, Jesse Hutch and Brant Daugherty at 11 am. I make sure I get a seat not too far behind the VIP’s in the standard seating area. Jen Lilley is a real dynamo, she moves everywhere, doesn’t hesitate to mime her words. She is very funny, especially when she talks about her motherhood. She makes everybody laugh, including me. I did not know her well but she clearly sets the mood with her exuberance. Jesse is also a great discovery, he is energetic with that boy next door vibe. Next to him, Bethany and Chad are silent and reserved. Chad is a bit sleepy, he explains that he has been traveling a lot the last few weeks and is still in jetlag. He doesn’t seem to be around much. He and Bethany don’t appear to be close to my surprise. When the moderator brings up her popular podcast (Drama Queens), Chad wonders and asks questions like he’s never heard of it before. Come on! He loosens up as the interview goes on. He’s even smiling and actively participating at the end of the hour-long panel. Bethany shares a few stories about filming with her partners Tyler and Andrew, and the backstage of her podcast.

The next panel is a recording of an episode of Melissa Joan Hart’s podcast live with Mario Lopez. I skip this one to try to meet some celebrities before the next panel at 1 pm. I am surprised but happy to see that Jack Wagner’s booth is not very busy, only three people there. This is it, I am going to meet Constable / Judge Bill Avery. And for the first time of the weekend, his handler does not object to me asking him some questions. Jack is very polite, he shakes my hand with a smile and I introduce myself. I try to find out more about When Calls The Heart season 10, he is very vague but reassuring about his character’s health. Then, I mention to him that I attended the Hearties reunion back in September in Vancouver. And finally his appearance in the Netflix Christmas movie marking Lindsey Lohan’s comeback. At the end of our exchange, I wonder if he is willing to record a video message for the #Hearties. He happily complies and invites me to take a picture with him as well. This time, I don’t hesitate, delighted to have met this long career actor with an exemplary kindness. The other tables are too busy for me to have time to talk with someone else. I return to the main stage to secure a seat because the next panel is the Ugly Christmas Sweater Competition judged by Andrew, Paul, Tyler and Jesse. So much to say that the room will be taken by storm! About 100 people are already waiting to get in. VIP tickets can keep their seats between two panels (and thus take seats for the day). While standard tickets (and me) have to go out between each panel and queue up again outside. My VIP buddies kindly save me a seat so I can join them. I’ve never seen the space so full before. At 1 pm sharp, Jonathan Bennett walks onto the stage wearing a flashy red suit. He is the host of this ceremony that will prove to be as silly as hilarious. Paul, Andrew, Jesse and Tyler follow one another under the screams of the audience and the many phones in the air. A first selection of contestants with elaborate looks takes place on the stage. The judges take their role very seriously and observe the costumes carefully. In addition to greeting, hugging each person and helping them walk up the steps, Tyler lists all the details and items he is contemplating on the mic. Andrew is busy taking pictures and videos of the costumes. Paul can hardly contain his many laughs. The groups of candidates keep coming and I wonder how many people have registered for the contest. Jonathan interacts with each person, making fun of them in a friendly way without being hurtful. The competition is friendly and will continue for 45 minutes. A busy and sparkling Christmas tree is declared the winner, followed by a disastrous snowball and a group of amazing nutcrackers. Jonathan doesn’t have time to catch his breath as he must host the next game that is about to start.

It’s ‘Minute to Win It’ games with Jen Lilley, Autumn Reeser, Melissa Joan Hart, Will Kemp, Jesse Metcalfe and Marc Blucas to benefit Christmas is not cancelled. I’ve heard and seen some content this past year about it. I have to say that Jen has managed to gather a lot of celebrities to her cause. The power of the Hallmark family once again! I understood that this is a charity for children, but I found the promotion throughout the day or panels to be too much. Don’t hate me… The event is broadcast live on the charity’s website. This is another fun and entertaining activity to watch. Autumn doesn’t bother trying to play, she cheats at everything. While the girls and guys are super serious about the competition, Jen a little too much so. Jesse excels in all categories. Marc is a real clown and a bit bad sport. Again, you learn a lot about everyone’s personalities just by observing them. I go for a bite around 3 pm and find Dara at the corner of an alley. I have trouble understanding the presence of some vendors on site unrelated to Christmas or the event, such as jewelry, cosmetics or spices. There is also a clear lack of food options compared to the large number of visitors, it’s impossible to sit in the food court. The last panel of the day starts at 4 pm with Cindy Busby, Taylor Cole, Katrina Law and Jesse Metcalfe. When I think that I was all turned on by the sexy gardener from Desperate Housewives when I was a teenager, and now he’s in front of me. Sure he has aged, but he’s still charming and he seems gentle. He’s calm and his voice is soothing, which doesn’t stop him from dancing on the table all of a sudden. I’m suddenly disappointed that I didn’t stand in line to meet him. There is then a big gap between the end of the panel at 4:40 pm and the movie premiere of ‘A Gift of Peace’ at 8 pm. With Chad, we decide to squat the empty kids’ zone, to have a drink. Susan, Mary and Jodie join us for a few minutes before a mysterious rendez-vous around 6 pm… The Convention Center empties, the vendors are already gone, the photo ops are finished. I hear the voice of Andrew suddenly speaking in a microphone. With Chad, being curious, we go towards where the sound comes from. Andrew is speaking to a small group of 30/40 people on the central stage of the Christmas Tree. We approach but a person quickly comes to meet us and explains to us that it is a private event and that we can’t stay here. I look around there is literally only Chad and me who are still there. As we are escorted a few meters away, I kinda feel humiliated and angry. I learn at the end of the event that it was a meet and greet organized by Andrew’s official Facebook group. Tyler was also having one in a separate room with Paul. Not being a member of either of these groups, I was not aware of it.

A little before the beginning of the movie preview of ‘A Gift of Peace’, I randomly have a conversation with the head of the volunteers (Josh, I think). I tell him how bummed I am that I don’t have much freedom to work. Josh offers me to stand with the photographers, cameras and journalists for the White Carpet of the premiere. Hope suddenly returns, will the last day of Christmas Con end on a high note? Nikki DeLoach and Brennan Elliott, the protagonists of tonight’s film, arrive for the photocall and to talk to the media. They are followed by Andrew, Paul, Jesse, Tyler, John Brotherton and Danica McKellar. Brennan, Jesse, Andrew and John play with the cameras and are clearly clowning around. Nikki is incredibly gorgeous and natural. As she and Brennan take the stage to answer some questions about the film, Andrew sits in the front row. He will remain here throughout the film’s screening to support his two friends. It strikes me and comforts me to see that the solidarity and friendship is real between them. Brennan even cried on his shoulder during a particularly emotional scene. I feel privileged to witness this moment, to watch this heartfelt movie with the actors who are both going through very difficult times in their personal lives. When the lights come back on, the eyes are red and puffy, you can hear the audience sniffling. Nikki and Brennan speak one last time to express sympathy for all those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Nikki’s voice is shaky and her eyes watery. It is meaningful, the drive back to the hotel that night is melancholy.

Day 3 – Sunday, December 11th

This morning, I close the door of my hotel room and take my luggage with me. Susan is waiting for me to make the trip to the Christmas Con one last time. To my surprise on the way there, I receive a DM on my Instagram account from That’s 4 Entertainment. The social media manager apologizes for the situation the day before at Andrew’s private meet and greet. Apparently she is the one who spoke with us and asked us to leave. Of all the things that happened this weekend, this is the first time that the organization apologizes. At the entrance, I look for Josh so that he can walk me to Chad Michael Murray’s booth. I find him but contrary to what I expected, he only allows me to enter the VIP line. There are only 5 people in front of me so I’ll wait. It is 9 am, the opening to the public and the actor’s arrival are planned in one hour. Unfortunately, a few minutes before Chad’s appearance, we are told that his schedule has changed. He will start his day with a photo session and then come to his booth. The line is getting longer and longer and backups are brought in to regulate the large flow of visitors. Chad and Bethany arrive at the same time around 10:30 am, and there is some excitement in the crowd. One asks me what extra I would like to do to give me a post-it, I say I want to talk and ask some questions. The girl is confused and continues her way in the endless line. It is finally my turn around 10:45 am and the handler doesn’t understand why I don’t have a post-it. I tell her that I only want to discuss and show her my media pass. She looks at me from head to toe and asks me which media I work for. I explain that I have my own blog and that I do freelance writing for French media. She cuts me off by telling me that Chad is not talking to any media today and asks the next person to step forward. I remain calm but refuse to move, attempting to argue that I’ve been patient for two days and that it won’t take any longer than the next person. Meanwhile, Chad is watching the scene, he is only inches away. Unlike a lot of celebrities this weekend, he doesn’t take the lead to clear the situation and he even looks away. After waiting all this time, I’m willing to pay for the extra selfie and make a video with him like any other fan. I face the handler refusal again and she repeats to me that Chad is not talking to any media. Without raising my voice, I ask her to call a supervisor or the organization. I feel bad for drawing attention but at the same time the rules not in favor of the media pass are starting to piss me off. As a security person approaches, I have to give up my spot and wait on the side for a manager. A dozen people, who witnessed the scene, are outraged and give me their support. I stand there for more than 20 minutes and I wonder if the girl lied to me. Finally, I see a woman coming to the table, the handler points at me. The lady introduces herself as the head of communications of That’s 4 Entertainment and in a dry and rigid voice asks me what the problem is. I’m not impressed and I list her all the difficulties I’ve had since the beginning of the weekend. She doesn’t seem concerned and tells me that any media request must be approved in advance. I am familiar with this kind of procedure and I assure her that I never received any instructions or information about it. She cuts the discussion short and directs me to leave the area. I am quite shocked that the head of communications indulges in this kind of attitude with a media guest, without having any idea who I am. My name is not on my pass, nor who I work for. At this point, all I want to do is get out of there and go home.

To take my mind off it, a new game with the actors is about to start. It’s a Family Game Night created and presented by Jonathan Bennett with Nikki DeLoach, Benjamin Ayres, Taylor Cole and Wes Brown. Two people from the audience are called on stage to play with them. To everyone’s surprise, Shannon is chosen to team up with Nikki and Wes. This should be quite memorable! The most unexpected games follow one another and the players don’t shy away from anything. The actors give 100% of themselves without fear of ridicule in these crazy challenges. It is honestly very funny. Wes and Benjamin are real gems, how could I not have noticed them before? Benjamin is a prankster, he brings the whole room into the game. Nikki gives herself body and soul as if it was the Olympic Games, no half measures but without any competition. Taylor is more discreet and reserved. I filmed the last challenge ‘Shaking Butt’ (no idea what it’s called, I just named it) and I sometimes watch it again, laughing. It sums up the fantastic hour that went by. For the first time all weekend, I head to the South Pole room with Dara and Chad. This secondary stage held creative panels presented by Jacklyn Collier, unfortunately at the same time as other activities. These are great opportunities to learn more about the behind-the-scenes people of our beloved Christmas productions: the authors, screenwriters, directors and producers. I attend the fascinating panel with director Anna White and author Nancy Naigle. What a pity I didn’t get to do more of them.

The clock is ticking and it’s time for me to leave to catch my plane. Chad offers to drive me to the airport. I am embarrassed that he is going to miss THE panel of the weekend for me. Nikki, Paul, Andrew and Tyler are the next and last guests to take the stage. But Chad seems to have had enough already. I say goodbye to the people who are already seated and who kept me company during those three days. And I leave the Exhibition Center with a mix of emotions just as the three boys arrive on stage.

My thoughts on the Christmas Con

As you can see, I was very disappointed by the treatment I received as a media guest at this event. I won’t say more than what I’ve already shared, but I hope that the organization will reconsider the permissions it grants to content creators.

Christmas Con is a mainstream event with plenty of kids, husbands, groups of teenage girls and entire families. I found that there were a lot of couples who enjoyed attending, they probably watch the movies together at home. The visitors play along, many are dressed up. On the other hand, the Convention Center is isolated in an industrial area, so it’s not easy to get there unless you have a car. From New York or JFK without a rental car, you have to take a train and a cab from the hotels. I am traveling alone and I had budgeted a lot of money for transportation during the three days. But I was lucky to benefit from the generosity and solidarity of the #Hynies. Thank you again Michelle, Susan and Chad (you’re one of the Hynies lol!)

You have to be willing to stand in a long line to spend a few moments with the big names like Chad Michael Murray (5h wait on Saturday) or Tyler Hynes (3h wait on Saturday too). Friday is the least busy day but some actors are not present and there is no Q&A panel.

The VIP ticket is well worth the investment. Whether it’s access to the site an hour before the rest of the visitors or to the VIP lines in the meet and greet area and the best seats in the panels, it’s a huge time saver. However, you have to be super fast, because VIP tickets sell out in no time! The price of the event is in the norm of what is done in the industry ($250 VIP weekend pass and $135 standard weekend pass). However, I find that there is an atmosphere where you feel that everything is done to make you spend money.

That being said, I enjoyed every panel discussion and game I attended at the main stage. They were diverse, interesting and funny. While this is not the opportunity to interact or meet the actors, it is undeniably where you get a sense of their personalities. Jonathan Bennett did an incredible job hosting, he was hilarious and he made every panel he presented an epic one. The creative secondary stage panels deserve a bit more consideration and promotion. It broke my heart to find the room nearly empty.

This weekend was a success for me because of the panels and the movie premiere, but also because of the new friendships made and the people I met. It’s always a chance to have access to so many celebrities in one space and see them in person. If the Christmas Con is in your budget and close to your home, I encourage you to go anyway.