Michaels and Hallmark are teaming up for the holiday season, and it all starts with a new Hallmark Channel movie. Michaels makes its Hallmark movie debut in Holiday Unplugged, a Countdown to Christmas original starring Nikki DeLoach and Juan Pablo Di Pace that premieres Saturday, November 7, at 8/7c. Beginning November 1, Michaels stores will host Hallmark-inspired holiday crafting events. That includes a November 7 workshop with Hallmark artists in Lenexa, Kansas, and New York City, plus an exclusive Hallmark holiday collection.
The movie: In Holiday Unplugged, DeLoach plays Sally, an art teacher and widowed mom of two who is ready to date again. When the home videos of her late husband are lost, she declares a screen-free Christmas while she quietly searches for the original tapes, with help from Damon, played by Di Pace. Along the way, the family learns to hold on to old memories while making new ones. It streams on Hallmark+ the next day. See where it lands in our full Countdown to Christmas 2026 schedule.
This is the first time Michaels has partnered with Hallmark on a holiday movie, and the screen-free story fits. Michaels and Morning Consult found that 8 in 10 parents are looking for screen-free, hands-on holiday activities.
“Hallmark has an incredible ability to capture the traditions, togetherness and sense of magic people associate with the holidays,” said Heather Bennett, President and Chief Customer Officer at Michaels.
Chris Ward, Senior Vice President of Ad Sales at Hallmark Media, said the sense of connection at the heart of the movie “made Michaels a natural partner to help bring the story beyond the screen.”
Michaels x Hallmark Holiday Workshop, November 7
The biggest day of the partnership lands on the same day Holiday Unplugged premieres. The Michaels x Hallmark Holiday Workshop features two projects designed by Hallmark:
- Dimensional paper ornaments inspired by Hallmark’s archives, 10 a.m. to noon
- Custom holiday cards made with paint-scraping techniques, 1 to 3 p.m.
Hallmark artists will make special appearances at two Michaels stores that day:
- Lenexa, Kansas: 9644 Quivira Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215
- New York City: 675 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10010
Lenexa sits just outside Kansas City, Hallmark’s hometown, so that stop is close to where many of these artists work.
Every Hallmark Holiday Event at Michaels
- Sunday, November 1: Hand-Stitched Card, 1 to 3 p.m. Use yarn and foam to make a textured, embroidered holiday card.
- Saturday, November 7: Michaels x Hallmark Holiday Workshop. Paper ornaments 10 a.m. to noon, holiday cards 1 to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, November 8: Holiday Ornament, 1 to 3 p.m. Make an ornament with foam and pom-poms or design your own decoration.
- Saturday, November 14: Kids Club Air-Dry Clay Figurines, 10 a.m. to noon.
- Sunday, November 15: Cookie Cutter Clay Ornaments, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, December 6: Hand-Knit Yarn Muff, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Saturday, December 12: Kids Club Painted Wood Ornaments, 10 a.m. to noon.
- Sunday, December 13: Holiday Junk Journal, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Saturday, December 19: Kids Club Cookie Decorating, 10 a.m. to noon.
If you cannot make it to a store, Michaels also has on-demand Hallmark classes at Michaels.com/classes, including calligraphy and more holiday projects.
Exclusive Hallmark products: Michaels will also carry a Hallmark holiday collection you can only get at Michaels stores and online, with baking and entertaining pieces, seasonal decor, plush and more. Michaels has more than 1,300 stores in 49 states and Canada.
Our take: A movie about putting down your phone, paired with real crafting events at a store near you, is the kind of tie-in that makes sense. Nikki DeLoach is always a welcome sight at Christmas, and the November 7 workshop gives Hallmark fans something to do before the premiere that night. If you are anywhere near Kansas City, the Lenexa stop is the one to get to.
See Michaels’ Hallmark page for events and products, and follow every movie of the season in our Hallmark Channel guide.
