The movie is set in Three Oaks, Michigan, where town exteriors were filmed. Filming also occurred at the Old Republic House in New Carlisle, Indiana, La Porte, Indiana, and at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois.
The real name of the reindeer who played Prancer was Boo.
The reindeer used for Prancer was a pregnant female. Pregnant reindeer keep their antlers for longer, and she was needed so she wouldn't shed before filming was over.
The film was originally going to be produced by Dino De Laurentiis, but the rights ended up with his daughter Raffaella De Laurentiis, who agreed to make the film for Cineplex Odeon.