I don’t know about y’all, but I’m starting to get that feeling. You know the one. It’s still hotter than the devil’s front porch outside, but I’m already thinking about pumpkins, cozy evenings, fall candles, Halloween and everything else that comes with my favorite time of year. Fall is getting closer, and I am absolutely not mad about it.
One of the things that really makes it feel like we’re getting close is when Hallmark starts bringing out the fall movies. For me, Fall Into Love is basically the next best thing to Hallmark Christmas, and I’m perfectly happy to say that out loud. Christmas movies may get all the attention, but there is something about the fall lineup that I really enjoy. Maybe it’s the scenery, maybe it’s the cozy storylines, or maybe I just have a weakness for movies where somebody returns to their hometown and unexpectedly falls for the person they absolutely did not plan on falling for.
Whatever it is, I’m here for it.
Fall Is My Hallmark Sweet Spot
I love Hallmark Christmas movies, but fall movies have their own personality. They’re cozy without being covered in Christmas decorations, and they give us all the things I love about autumn without rushing straight into the holidays. There’s usually a charming little town, a family business, a fall festival, an old friendship or relationship that needs revisiting, and two people who somehow need an entire movie to figure out what the audience already knew within the first fifteen minutes.
And honestly, that’s part of the fun.
I’m not watching these movies because I expect some shocking plot twist that changes everything I thought I knew. I’m watching because sometimes I want something comfortable. Real life has enough stress, complicated relationships, bad news and unexpected nonsense. There is something wonderfully relaxing about sitting down with a movie where I know I’m probably going to get a beautiful setting, a little romance, a few misunderstandings and a happy ending.
That’s entertainment I can get behind.
Fall also gives Hallmark some of the prettiest settings of the year. I love seeing those little towns dressed up for autumn, with pumpkins, trees changing colors, farmers markets, festivals and all the other things that make fall feel like fall. It makes me want to grab a blanket, light a candle and stay home for the evening.
Of course, living in Texas means I may have to pretend it’s cold outside for a while longer. That’s okay. I’m very good at pretending when pumpkins are involved.
Related: Happy Augtober! The Unofficial First Day of Fall
Fall Into Love Starts August 22
Hallmark’s official Fall Into Love event begins Saturday, August 22, with Love Finds You, starring Aimeé Teegarden and Chris McNally. The movie kicks off a lineup of new romantic stories airing on Saturday nights throughout the fall.
Before that, Hallmark is giving us a little preview with Aussie at Heart on August 15. So technically, I don’t even have to wait until next weekend to start getting into the fall movie mood.
I’m certainly not going to complain about that.
The lineup continues with Much About Love on August 29, followed by more new movies throughout September. There are romance stories, mysteries and plenty of the kind of cozy fall settings that make me want to crawl under a blanket and stay there until somebody tells me it’s time for Christmas movies.
One of the September movies that immediately caught my attention is Garage Sale Mysteries: Murder Takes the Stage. A true-crime book club, a murder and a Lizzie Borden reenactment? Now we’re talking. Hallmark apparently decided to sneak a little murder into my fall movie season, and as somebody who enjoys a good mystery, I am perfectly okay with that.
Then there’s Pumpkin Regatta Romance later in September, which has exactly the sort of ridiculous-but-fun premise that makes Hallmark movies so entertaining. I mean, we’re talking about pumpkins, a regatta, a family feud and romance. I’m not saying I know how all of that is going to come together, but I’m absolutely willing to sit there and watch it happen.
Saturday Nights Just Got Better
There is something I really love about having movies like these to look forward to on Saturday nights. By the time the weekend gets here, I’ve usually had enough of everything that needs to be done. Sometimes I don’t want to go anywhere or accomplish anything particularly impressive. I just want to settle in at home and enjoy myself.
That’s where Hallmark comes in.
Give me a cozy house, something good to eat, a warm drink, one of my favorite fall scents going and a movie that doesn’t require me to think too hard, and I’m happy. I don’t need every movie I watch to be serious or complicated. Sometimes I want a little escape, and Hallmark is pretty darn good at providing one.
Fall Into Love is especially good for that because it gives us the feeling of fall without making us jump straight into Christmas. I love Christmas, but I’m not ready to skip over my pumpkins and Halloween just yet. There is a whole season in between summer and Christmas that deserves some attention.
And I’m going to give it plenty.
Related: My Favorite Hallmark Christmas Movies: A Countdown to Cheer
Then Comes the Christmas Countdown
Of course, we all know what’s waiting on the other side of fall.
Hallmark Christmas.
I’m not even going to pretend I’m not already thinking about it. Fall Into Love is basically the appetizer before the main course, and Hallmark knows exactly what it’s doing. We get our fall movies, we settle into the cozy atmosphere, and then suddenly we’re surrounded by Christmas trees, lights, snow and people who somehow own businesses that only make money during the holidays.
And yes, I will watch those too.
But I’m trying to appreciate each season as it comes. I don’t want to rush through fall just because I know Christmas is waiting around the corner. There is too much I love about this time of year to skip over it.
I want the pumpkins and the fall candles. I want Halloween decorations. I want spooky movies and autumn recipes. I want those first evenings when the temperature finally drops enough that sitting outside is enjoyable. I want the colors, the smells and all those little signs that tell us the year is starting to wind down.
Fall is its own thing, and I love it.
I’m Ready for Fall, Y’all
So yes, I’m excited that Fall Into Love is getting ready to start. I’m excited about the new movies, but I’m even more excited about what they represent. We’re getting closer to the season I’ve been waiting for all year, and Hallmark is giving me one more excuse to embrace it.
The official Fall Into Love lineup starts August 22, and I have a feeling Saturday nights are going to be looking pretty good around here.
I may still be sweating when I walk outside. The leaves may still be stubbornly green. Texas may refuse to acknowledge that it’s supposed to be fall.
I don’t care.
In my house, fall has already been invited in.
And if Hallmark wants to bring a little romance along with it, well, y’all know I’m not turning that down. 🍂❤️
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and sixteen grandchildren.