Cherries at Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery & Market in Fish Creek, July 10, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) — A new Christmas movie features the small town charm of Door County, Wisconsin.
A Wisconsin Christmas Pie is available for streaming on Great American PureFlix beginning October 9, and will air on Great American Family on October 11 at 7 p.m.
A pastry chef returns to Door County, Wisconsin for the holidays, and must choose between her dream job and the legacy of her family's cherry orchard business – with a little help from her high school sweetheart, and a lost cherry pie recipe. 🥧
Watch 'A Wisconsin Christmas Pie'… pic.twitter.com/0q41w0IWxj
— Great American Family (@GAfamilyTV) October 6, 2025
“Door County is stunning, breathtaking, and freezing cold,” said Katie LeClerc, who plays Emma. “But, the people are so warm you don’t notice. It was a real delight to experience that.”
The film was shot during March and April of this year. Ryan Carnes, who plays love interest Mitch Henricksen, says it was the perfect conditions for a Christmas movie.
“The first day of filming we actually had a blizzard. We were shooting on the water. So we didn’t have to stretch our imaginations too far,” he said with a laugh.
The following locations can be seen in the movie:
- White Gull Inn in Fish Creek
- Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market in Fish Creek
- Eagle Tower at Peninsula State Park
- Henriksen’s Fish House in Ellison Bay
- Hillside Waterfront Hotel in Ephraim
- Novel Bay Booksellers in Sturgeon Bay
- Christkindlmarkt in Sister Bay
- Door County trolleys
While obviously most of LeClerc’s time in Door County was spent working on set, she had some recommendations for anybody traveling to Door County.
“Stay at the Hillside Waterfront; I’ve never been to a better hotel,” she said. “And Thyme! Thyme Restaurant did all of our catering throughout the film and the food is excellent.”
Carnes character, Mitch, is even based on a real man from Door County.
“His last name is Henriksen, and he is part of Henriksen’s Fisheries. It’s a family run business; they’ve been there for a bunch of years,” he said. “Two members of the family, a husband and wife, came out for one day of filming and they got to be in the background of the scene.”
Over 400 locals volunteered to act as extras; but one face that Packers fans might recognize is Ahman Green. He plays a judge in a cherry pie contest.
Door County Auditorium will host public screenings of A Wisconsin Christmas Pie on December 14 and 15; with LeClerc, Carnes, and other actors from the movie set to attend. While both shows are sold out, Door County Auditorium says they’re exploring adding a third screening, and will make an announcement on their website and social media.
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