Every December, widower Christopher Byrne (Tate Donovan) travels to New York City with his young son (Michael Mitchell) and daughter (Courtney Jines) from the family’s Christmas tree farm in Nova Scotia, to sell their trees on a street corner in Chelsea.

On that same street lives Catherine O’Meara (Anne Heche), a lonely soul who lost her beloved husband three years earlier. But this year the usually idyllic stay in the Big Apple turns sour. Sixteen year-old Danny declares that he wants to remain in Manhattan to study photography, an interest he’s inherited from his late mother. Christopher insists his son return to Nova Scotia. They quarrel, and Danny runs away. The heartbroken father and sister head home.

A year later, they return – again, to sell Christmas trees, and to continue searching for Danny, who’s been secretly studying photography under the informal tutelage of museum curator Catherine O’Meara. Eventually, the lonely widow, distraught father and estranged son come together – and have every reason to truly celebrate Christmas!