ATHENS — The city of Athens has the Christmas spirit – Hollywood style.

For the past few weeks, the city has been a filming location for “Kangaroo Christmas,” a family holiday movie produced by the Alabama North Film Group and longtime actor Branscombe Richmond.

The film follows Joey, a young kangaroo who escapes from a zoo and is found by two children whose family is struggling through the holidays after a loss. Their efforts to reunite Joey with its mother help bring their family back together and rediscover the spirit of the season.

“What made Athens so appealing was the look and feel of it,” Richmond said. “We really fell in love with it. You only want to go where you are wanted, and everyone here has been so welcoming and cooperative. It was truthfully a no-brainer.”

Filming has taken place at several Athens landmarks, including the Limestone County Courthouse Square and the Alabama Veterans Museum.

Production is scheduled to finish Saturday at the Athens Farmers Market at Doug Gates Park. The film is expected to be released around Christmas.

“It’s children and animals during Christmas,” Richmond said. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

The production has involved residents as extras and crew members, giving many their first experience in filmmaking. Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks will also make a cameo appearance.

“It’s nice to see the enthusiasm of this community,” Richmond said. “This is a wonderful place, and we are really feeding off the energy that is already here as we film.”

City officials say they hope “Kangaroo Christmas” will help showcase Athens as a welcoming setting for future film projects.