🌟 Memorial Day Weekend 2025 🌟 Patriotic TV Specials, Movie Marathons, and More ➤➤

On this Memorial Day...
we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation, and we lift up heartfelt prayers for those who continue to serve today. We are truly blessed to live in a country where we can enjoy our freedoms and honor those who have fought to protect them.

This weekend always brings a blend of emotions- a time for solemn reflection and heartfelt gratitude, as well as a celebration of the freedoms we cherish, marking the unofficial start of Summer! (Plus, this Sunday marks 7 months 'til Christmas day!)

If you're planning to relax with some patriotic programming or catch one of the new movies on TV, I’ve included some of the highlights below...


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Saturday, May 24, 2025:

Love On The Danube: Royal Getaway

Storyline: A jilted art gallery manager takes her honeymoon cruise solo and meets a charming prince posing as a European gentleman, who shares her passion for art.

Love On The Danube: Royal Getaway

Premieres Saturday, May 24, 2025

at 8pm/7c on the Hallmark Channel

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Sunday, May 25, 2025:

A Bestselling Kind of Love

Storyline: Nora is thrilled when her first novel shoots to the top of the bestsellers list but is terrified of speaking in front of crowds to promote her book, so Nora’s literary agent hires Daniel, a public speaking coach, to help Nora overcome her fears, which is easier said than done.

A Bestselling Kind of Love

Sunday, May 25, 2025

at 7pm/6c on UPtv

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Hallmark Channel's Memorial Day Weekend Movie Marathons-


Royal-themed Movie Marathon:

Friday:
A Royal Christmas
One Royal Holiday

Saturday:
A Royal Winter
Royal-ish
The Royal We
The Reluctant Royal
Royal Matchmaker
Love On The Danube: Royal Getaway *NEW


Vineyard-themed Movie Marathon:

Sunday:
Napa Ever After
Autumn in the Vineyard
The Perfect Pairing
Raise a Glass to Love
Paris, Wine, & Romance


Wedding-themed Movie Marathon:

Monday:
Love at First Dance
Ms. Matched
Wedding Bells
My Boyfriend's Back: Wedding March 5
Bridal Wave
The Perfect Bride
Marrying Mr. Darcy
The Wedding Cottage
A Country Wedding
Hearts Around the Table: Kiki's Fourth Ingredient


Hallmark Mystery has a mix of mystery movies airing all weekend long, including Murder, She Baked, Curious Caterer, Garage Sale Mysteries, with a Matlock marathon on Monday.

Hallmark Family has a special rare airing on Saturday of the Hallmark Hall of Fame movies: Sarah, Plain, and Tall, Skylark, and Sarah, Plain, and Tall: Winter's End.


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Great American Family's Memorial Day Weekend Highlights-


Christmas Movie Night:

Friday:
Christmas Under the Northern Lights
A Cinderella Christmas Ball
Peppermint & Postcards


Classic Rom-Coms:

Saturday:
An Autumn Romance
For the Love of Chocolate
A Royal Seaside Romance

Sunday:
Retreat to Paradise
Seasoned with Love
Prescription for Love


Memorial Day Mystery Marathon:

Monday:
Murder She Wrote Movie Marathon


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UPtv's Memorial Day Weekend Highlights-


Movie Marathon:

Friday:
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004)
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines (2006)
The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008)

*Note: Although these movies are older, I've personally never seen them. If you’ve viewed any of them and would like to share your thoughts or a quick review, feel free to drop a comment below.


Series Marathons:

Saturday:
Heartland
Hudson & Rex
Blue Bloods


Classic Rom-Com Highlights:

Sunday:
Sincerely, Yours, Truly
The Story of Love
Love Stories in Sunflower Valley
A Bestselling Kind of Love *NEW


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image credit: TCM / SERGEANT YORK Gary Cooper 1941

TCM's Memorial Day Weekend Programming Honors the Military-

From May 23rd to May 26th, TCM will air more than 40 movies commemorating those who lost their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces.

To see the full schedule in a printable PDF, click here.


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Sunday, May 25, 2025

Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise co-host the 2025 National Memorial Day Concert, The program is a tribute to the service and sacrifice of the men and women in the U.S. armed forces, their families, and all those who have given their lives for the country. The concert will feature musical performances, documentary footage, and dramatic readings.

The 2025 National Memorial Day Concert airs Sunday, May 25, 2025, 8/7c. on the eve of Memorial Day. (You may also want to check your local listings for this original showing and potential encore airings.)


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Sunday, May 25, 2025



This Sunday, May 25th, also marks 7 months 'til Christmas Day!

Here at "It's a Wonderful Movie" we highlight every 25th day of the month - TOGETHER! - as we Countdown to Christmas! You can also join along!

If you'll be watching something Christmassy this weekend, please share in comments below.

In honor of Memorial Day, I will be watching the military movie USS Christmas starring Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan.

USS Christmas was filmed across both North Carolina and South Carolina. Key locations included Wilmington, North Carolina, where the Battleship North Carolina stood in for the USS Polaris and Charleston, South Carolina, where the USS Yorktown was used for several shipboard scenes.

This patriotic film ignites a deep passion for country, honoring the bravery and sacrifice that define the American spirit.


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image credit: RTWIB Canvas Painting - Vintage Truck Americana Wall Art
available at Amazon

I pray you all have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day Weekend. I'm incredibly grateful for our military, who have bravely fought to protect the freedoms we hold dear- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and so much more.

I was heartbroken to hear about the tragic killing this week of a young couple, soon to be engaged, who were staffers at the Israeli Embassy in D.C. While we are fortunate to have freedom of religion, it's heartbreaking that we live in a world where hatred persists. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones of this couple during this difficult time. I'm praying that even in the midst of darkness, there will be the gentle, healing presence of His Light.

May God bless America, as we pray for peace at home and all around the world.

Wishing you a restful and meaningful Memorial Day weekend as we honor and remember those who gave their lives in service, and cherish this special time with family and friends.

God's blessings to you all,

Net

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"Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life
for his friends."

~John 15:13

"Blessed is the nation
whose God is the LORD,

The people whom He has chosen
for His own inheritance."

~Psalm 33:12

Hallmark Announces May 2025 Schedule with New Movie Premieres and Mystery - SEE DETAILS:

Hallmark will be premiering NEW MOVIES in MAY!

FIVE new romantic comedies will premiere on the Hallmark Channel; however, three of these movies previously aired on Hallmark's streaming service, Hallmark+.

And the new May mystery, that is set to premiere on Hallmark Mystery, also first aired on Hallmark+.

See all of the movie details below...


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Hallmark Channel:

Hats Off To Love

Premiere Date: May 3, 2025

Starring Ginna Claire-Mason, Holly Robinson Peete and John Clarence Stewart

Storyline: Stella designs hats and fascinators for socialite Rosalind and meets her son Christian who's training a horse to compete in the Louisville Derby.

Movie Reviews:

👒 Hats off to Love was really good. It was filmed in my neck of the woods, I know a lot of the places. We used to drive by the dog racing tracks a lot when I was a kid cause that was the way to the airport when we had to drop someone off or pick them up. That was the only way to the airport back then cause they did not have the Suncoast Parkway to get to airport. Great memories of my sisters and I in the backseat of the giant cadillac my parents had.

The scene with the ferris wheel was at the Florida State Fairgrounds, and it was the state fair and going on when they filmed. I could recognize the ampitheater behind them where I have gone to countless concerts. My nephews graduation was at the fairgrounds last May. And, I work like a mile from the fairgrounds.

But the movie was also good, I LOVE Ginna. She is so great and I want to go back and watch all her Christmas movies. I liked Christian a lot too and I kept the movie on my DVR to watch again. Sabrina

👒 Hats Off to Love - I liked Ginna Claire, but the other cast? Not so much. Holly’s character was rich/rude, and the horse trainer guy wasn’t always nice. I was in and out of the room a couple times, but from what I saw it’s a safe family movie. ~Allie B

👒 Allie, I am with you on this! It was nice to see the business end of the hat making - I had never thought about it, but it makes sense, if indeed this is how it really works - but the movie didn't grab me. Ginna Claire was good (as usual) in her role, but I didn't care for the attitudes of the other three ladies and how they went back and forth between being rude and being kind. Definitely a one-time watch only for me. ~Mark 25


👒 Hats Off to Love – Ginna Claire Mason, as always, was delightful and lovely! It was also so sweet to hear her sing to Willa the racehorse, even if it was brief.

On the downside, I felt the hats designed for the derby and other festivities were underwhelming and lacked the dramatic flair I anticipated. Similarly, the romantic connection between the leads, Stella and Christian, was underwhelming, as well; it felt flat and underdeveloped.

Holly Robinson Peete delivered a nice performance as Rosalind, the Southern socialite. I wasn’t overly fond of her character in the beginning, but it was nice to see Rosalind evolve from being somewhat snobby and unapproachable to more warm and relatable by the end.

All in all, the film was lighthearted and family-friendly with a sweet, feel-good ending. While it had its shortcomings, it was still a pleasant viewing experience for a one-time watch. ~Net


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Love In The Clouds

Premiere Date: May 10, 2025

Starring Paul Greene, McKenzie Westmore, Gail O'Grady and Lorenzo Lamas

Storyline: Reporter Brooklyn travels to the Balloon Fiesta to meet hot air balloon pilot Jared, who offers romantic balloon rides but is closed off to love himself.

Movie Reviews:

⛅ Love in the Clouds is adorable! So lovely to see Paul Greene working again. –Maria

⛅ Love in the Clouds – While it was most delightful to see Paul Greene and Gail O’Grady on Hallmark once again, the story itself just didn’t work for me. The hot air balloon rides, meant to be the highlight and magical element of the movie, were disappointingly unconvincing, with CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) that looked noticeably fake.

I truly wanted to love this movie. It had all the key points of a feel-good, family-friendly watch, but overall, it lacked the spark to make it great. It was simply a pleasant one-time watch for me. ~Net




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Hallmark+ Movies premiering on the Hallmark Channel:

Love On The Danube: Love Song

Premiere Date: May 17, 2025

Starring Wes Brown and Nazneen Contractor

Storyline: Fellow cruise passengers, Sarah and Jack, play matchmaker with their music loving widowed parents, as they cruise down the Danube visiting European cities.

Movie Reviews:

🚢 Hallmark +'s Love on the Danube: Love Song is... FANTASTIC!! -Maria

🚢 For me, the first one, "Love on the Danube: Love Song," was just okay, kind of slow, at times. Although, I like both Wes Brown and Nazneen Contractor, the connection between the two just wasn't there for me. ~Net

🚢 Enjoyed Love on the Danube. –dstoutholcomb



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Love On The Danube: Royal Getaway

Premiere Date: May 24, 2025

Starring Jessica Sipos and Dan Jeannotte

Storyline: A jilted art gallery manager takes her honeymoon cruise solo and meets a charming prince posing as a European gentleman, who shares her passion for art.

Movie Reviews:

🚢 Hallmark +'s Love on the Danube: Royal Getaway is absolutely darling! Highly recommend. -Maria

🚢 My husband and I really enjoyed "Love on the Danube - Royal Getaway"! We did not like the 1st movie in the series. In fact, we did not even finish it. However, the 2nd movie was much better, in our opinion. Yes, it had the same Royal storyline, which has been done so many times. But, Dan and Jessica had such great chemistry we were able to get past that. Plus, it was funny! The last movie, in the trilogy, also looks good. We are looking forward to that one as well. ~Joan

🚢 The second one, "Love on The Danube Royal Getaway," was sooo much better, even if Dan Jeannotte's beard in the first 5-10 minutes is ridiculously fake. Jessica Sipos and Dan Jeannotte make such a nice pairing, and I really enjoyed the secondary story with the widowed woman who goes on all of the cruises; she's such a fun character. ~Net



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Love On The Danube: Kissing Stars

Premiere Date: May 31, 2025

Starring Brendan Penny and Sarah Power

Storyline: Savannah, a publicist, reluctantly works with Tripp, a celebrity who is having trouble connecting with his fans, abroad a cruise promoting his latest film.

Movie Reviews:

🚢 Hallmark +'s Love on the Danube: Kissing Stars is clean and a beautiful end to the trilogy! Hope Hallmark airs this on the main network and eventually puts this on DVD. -Maria




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Hallmark Mystery:

The Jane Mysteries: Murder At Moseby

Premiere Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025

Starring Jodie Sweetin and Stephen Huszar

Storyline: Jane goes undercover at her alma mater to help her college boyfriend solve a crime he may have witnessed years ago – during the annual Edgar Allan Poe Festival.

🔎 I have seen the mystery The Jane Mysteries: Murder At Moseby via Hallmark+, and I must say it was my least favorite movie of the series. It was rather slow for me personally and just didn't interest me much, but I stayed with the story until the end. As I recall, the Edgar Allan Poe Festival in the movie is rather creepy. It's definitely best for preteens and up. ~Net

🔎 I agree Net, the Moseby mystery was so slow! But I felt that way about all the Jane Mysteries….they just didn’t wow me at all, no chemistry between her and the detective, and her Aunt Sadie is just off to me, always done up in a 3 piece outfit with makeup at 11pm 😂 A lot of these new movies for May look great! ~Paula

🔎 I might be the only one, but I really like The Jane Mysteries. Jodie is not my favorite actress, but I enjoy her in these. I also think she has good chemistry with Stephen. I like her singing, too. The lyrics are cute and get stuck in my head. All 4 movies are clean. Murder at Moseby was a little creepy with the Poe Fest, but not too bad. There were a couple holes in the Too Much to Lose mystery but overall I hope there are more Jane Mysteries to come. ~Anonymous

🔎 I’ve actually been enjoying the Jane Mysteries. I’m not a fan of Jodie, but I like her curiosity as Jane and I like that she and the detective have been working together since the beginning. So far they have been family friendly, but I think her singing is seductive so I skip that. ~Abigail

🔎 Really enjoy the “Jane” series and hope more are being planned. They are different from most of the series that all seem to follow the same theme. Also enjoy the period songs performed. They are probably my favorite part of each episode. ~Anonymous

🔎 I totally agree with you about the Murder at Moseby being dull and uninspiring. Hallmark had such great mystery movie series and they've dumped most of them and replaced them with movies with poor plots and not great acting. ~Anonymous



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First, it's lovely to see Ginna Claire-Mason in another movie! I think she is a wonderful actress, so I'm delighted to see Hallmark continue to work with her. And yes, I've also been seeing the news that she is filming a Christmas time-travel movie with Wes Brown titled Newport Christmas.

Speaking of Wes Brown, it's nice to see the Love on the Danube collection of films come to the Hallmark Channel, especially for those who do not have Hallmark+. I have seen the first two and can you that they are, indeed, family-friendly, lighthearted stories. Of the two I saw, I enjoyed Love On The Danube: Royal Getaway best.

I have also seen the mystery The Jane Mysteries: Murder At Moseby, and I must say it was my least favorite movie of the series. It was rather slow for me personally and just didn't interest me much, but I stayed with the story until the end. As I recall, the Edgar Allan Poe Festival in the movie is rather creepy. It's definitely best for preteens and up.

Have you seen any of these Hallmark movies? If so, please feel free to share your thoughts on any of these movies in comments below.

Happy movie-watching!

Net