It’s official: The Gilmore Girls Fan Festival is coming to Unionville, Ontario! Two years ago, I visited Unionville, Ontario (i.e. real-life Stars Hollow, CT), where the Gilmore Girls Pilot was filmed. I’m obsessed with the show and was thrilled to visit the place where the very first episode was filmed.
On a freezing cold day, I walked down Main Street Unionville. It was lit up with twinkling lights and looked every bit like the fictional town of Stars Hollow (i.e. the Warner Brothers backlot).
I shared the experience in a story that ended up being one of my highest-traffic stories of all time. To this day, Gilmore Girls fans write to me about their obsession with the show and visiting Unionville.
One of those fans is an organizer of the Gilmore Girls Fan Festival, an annual event that so far has taken place in various cities throughout Connecticut. The show was, after all, inspired by Amy Sherman-Palladino’s visit to Washington Depot.
However, I would argue that Unionville is a better doppelganger for Stars Hollow. The town even has two gazebos and a park called TooGood Park (I’m not making this up, kids)…with a pond called TooGood Pond that you can just picture Luke pushing Jess into.
The point is, the organizers reached out to let me know this year’s Gilmore Girls Fan Festival is finally taking place in Unionville, Ontario!
Gilmore Girls Fan Festivaldates and ticket sales
The event will take place in Unionville on October 4 – 6, 2019. Tickets will go on sale on February 11 at noon. I wasn’t able to attend past festivals because they were held the same weekend as the Chicago Seminars. However, I probably won’t go to the Chicago Seminars this year. Gilmore Girls Fan Festival activities
The organizers haven’t announced activities yet. Chances are they’ll mirror past events, which have included cake tasting, a knit-a-thon, hiking, lunch at a Luke-style diner, and cast meet-and-greets.
Personally, I think it would be awesome if they set up a Luke’s Diner pop-up shop in front of 156 Main Street. That’s where the opening scene of the pilot episode was filmed. Maybe something similar to what Kirk had going on in Season 7. Just to give the event more authenticity.
Since The Handmaid’s Tale shoots in Ontario, maybe they can even get Alexis Bledel to make an appearance. Fingers crossed!
Where to stay in Unionville, Ontario
If you want the full “Stars Hollow” experience, I recommend getting an Airbnb in the area. For example, a room in this cute little house right off Main Street and costs just $30 per night. If you need a bit more space, there’s this 2-bedroom apartment near Toogood Park for $68 per night.
Options around Main Street Unionville are limited. If you don’t mind being a few blocks away, there are several nice places to stay. Just do a search on Airbnb, go into Map View and you’ll get a good sense of what’s available.
If you’re new to Airbnb, sign up with my Airbnb referral link and you’ll get $40 off a $75 booking.
Are you a Gilmore fan? Are you planning to attend the Gilmore Girls Fan Festival in Unionville this year?
I can’t find tickets! Please help me.
The event has been renamed “The Fan Society.” You can buy tickets to future festivals here: https://www.thefanfestsociety.com/home