Northern Lights of Christmas

Zoey Hathaway is a charter pilot in Seattle who dreams of purchasing her own aircraft. Her life changes when she inherits a ranch in Aurora, Alaska, from her mentor, Gus Henderson. She travels to Alaska with the intention of selling the property quickly to fund her plane. Upon arrival, she meets Alec Wynn, the ranch's stoic caretaker who was close to Gus and is clearly disappointed by Zoey's plan to sell. The ranch comes with two reindeer, Holly and Palmer, the latter of whom repeatedly escapes to a local airstrip, causing FAA fines for Zoey. When potential buyers, the Upsons, suggest gutting the house and replacing the barn with a garage for 'toys,' Alec and Zoey realize they cannot sell to just anyone. To attract a buyer who will respect Gus's legacy, Zoey decides to revive the town's traditional Christmas Festival. As they prepare, Zoey and Alec bond; she discovers he is a talented photographer who avoids flying due to a preference for the ground. In a pivotal scene, Alec joins Zoey on a mail delivery flight to remote towns, where they witness the Northern Lights together, and Alec begins to open up about his lonely upbringing. Meanwhile, Zoey discovers that Palmer the reindeer has been escaping to find his mate, Sadie, who lives at the airstrip. A hotel corporation offers a lucrative deal that would allow Zoey to buy her plane but requires cutting down the memorial trees Gus planted for his late wife. Despite the road being blocked by a fallen tree on the day of the festival, the townspeople rally together to clear it. At the festival, Alec surprises everyone by dressing as Santa, and Zoey's parents arrive from Florida. Realizing she loves the community and Alec, Zoey rejects the hotel offer. She decides to stay in Aurora, turning the ranch into a bed and breakfast with her friends Anya and Brock, and takes over a local mail flight route. Alec, who was planning to leave for a wilderness job, returns to declare his love, and the two begin a life together on the ranch.