Celebrations with Lacey Chabert, the Hallmark Channel series that surprises local heroes with bespoke celebrations, returns for a second season Monday, Sept. 15, with next-day streaming on Hallmark+. Host Lacey Chabert said she hopes to expand the show beyond Los Angeles — even returning to Mississippi, where she was born — to tell more hometown stories.
The half-hour series pairs Chabert with party planners Lisa Friedman and Marissa Lainer to design themed surprise parties around nominees who have served their communities. Chabert said the program underscores how many of the honorees channeled personal hardships into service, citing one subject, Kayli-Joy, who founded the nonprofit Girl Well after surviving a house fire. "I walk away from the experience of filming this show...feeling so inspired," she said, calling the reveal moment "pretty much a guaranteed cry."
Producers fielded many nominations and worked with a casting agency to narrow contenders to eight episodes for the season. Chabert said she and a behind-the-scenes team watched numerous nomination tapes and weighed options carefully to select honorees whose stories would translate well to the surprise-party format.
Season 2 includes celebrity appearances from Garrett Morris, Jason Mraz and Kimberly J. Brown, who joined staff and friends to add personal touches or reunions to several celebrations. Chabert described arranging surprise reunions — including flying in family members for an on-camera moment — as among the most affecting parts of production.
The show is filmed in Los Angeles and, according to Chabert, required flexibility; planners adjusted when weather or logistical issues forced last-minute venue changes. She said the producers emphasize a strong thematic concept for each celebration, then develop decor, food and a hero moment that align with that theme. Chabert often participates in the creative process and said she enjoys the DIY elements viewers could replicate at home.
A regular presence on the network, Chabert said she was about to begin her 44th Hallmark movie when interviewed, and she described a collaborative relationship with Hallmark that has allowed her to take on producing responsibilities. She recently completed a holiday film with Andrew Walker titled She’s Making a List, in which she plays an auditor for Santa’s naughty-or-nice roster, and will appear in Haul Out the Halloween, which is scheduled to air Oct. 11.
Chabert also said she has a Hallmark product line due this holiday season that will include wrapping paper, cards, glasses and a serving tray. She framed the merchandise as an extension of the show’s celebration theme: "With these items, I’ll get to be a part of other people’s celebrations," she said.
While Chabert acknowledged the work behind producing a series can be stressful, she emphasized the emotional rewards of highlighting volunteers and community leaders. She said the show grew out of Hallmark’s emphasis on relatable storytelling and that it felt natural to shift from scripted characters to real-life conversations. "It was a little scary at first...to be myself," she said, but added that authentic moments and unplanned interactions became some of the series' most meaningful scenes.
Chabert indicated a willingness to continue the franchise and expand its reach, saying she would "do a hundred seasons" if given the chance and expressing a particular interest in taking the program to other regions of the United States, including her birthplace of Mississippi. Celebrations with Lacey Chabert returns Sept. 15 on Hallmark Channel, with episodes available next day on Hallmark+.