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<\/p>\nA Northern California city once known for its grim Gold Rush-era hangings is now in the running to be crowned one of the merriest Christmas towns in America by the Hallmark Channel.<\/p>\n
Placerville, located in El Dorado County, was founded in 1848 and was originally known as Dry Diggins before earning the unfortunate name “Hangtown.”<\/p>\n
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Placerville is known for its Christmas celebrations. Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas towns Contest<\/p>\n
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Main Street in Placerville. Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/p>\n
During the Gold Rush, the discovery of gold in nearby rivers and mountains brought a surge of newcomers to the area. Several frontier justice hangings during that period ultimately gave the community its notorious nickname, which it carried until 1854.<\/p>\n
Today, it is home to roughly 10,300 people and is known for something considerably more cheerful: its Christmas celebrations.<\/p>\n
Placerville is one of 25 communities across the country competing in the Hallmark Channel’s Merriest Christmas Towns contest, part of the network’s 25th anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n
The city’s holiday traditions include the Hangtown Christmas Parade, the Hometown Holiday on Main celebration and Christmas Tree Lane, when a stretch along Highway 50 is decorated with Christmas trees and lights.<\/p>\n
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Placerville is a historic Gold Rush town in El Dorado County. Getty Images<\/p>\n
The public will be able to vote in the contest, while a panel of judges will also help select the “Merriest Christmas Town,” according to the Hallmark website.<\/a><\/p>\n The towns will be judged on their “community spirit, holiday traditions, neighborhood charm, and goodwill.”<\/p>\n Downtown Placerville. Getty Images<\/p>\n Other communities in the running include Ashland, Oregon; Bemidji, Minnesota; and Berlin, Maryland.<\/p>\n Each of the 25 communities participating in the contest has already been designated an Official Hallmark Christmas Town.<\/p>\n The contest celebrates the network’s 25th anniversary.<\/p>\n But the grand-prize winner will receive an even bigger distinction: the opportunity to serve as a filming location for a Hallmark movie.<\/p>\n Voting is open online once per day through 11:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 4, 2026.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters<\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>![\"Downtown](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/california_post_772\/f9cacd667897396ec5c5df4a88ab8c47.jpg\"\/)
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