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According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are approximately 15,000 Christmas tree farms across the United States, and 30 million Christmas trees are purchased each Christmas, with many families of all sizes participating in the annual holiday event that has special meaning to them.
most popular christmas tree The same source states that it belongs to the pine, spruce and fir families. It takes about seven years for a tree to reach its typical height of 6 to 7 feet.
The first Christmas tree farm was planted in Whitehorse, New Jersey in 1901 by farmer and entrepreneur WV McGalliard.
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Many Christmas tree farms It’s family owned, In addition to attracting first-time visitors, generations of guests return to relive childhood memories with their own families.
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Many Christmas tree farms across the country are family-owned and operated, and generations of guests return with new memories based on their own family traditions. (Robert Melville)
Sustainable farms are environmentally conscious. For example, Krueger Christmas Tree Farm in Lake Elmo, Minn., uses no pesticides and very little herbicides, according to third-generation farmer John Krueger.
Several owners and families shared their seasons and memories-filled stories.
“I used to come here when I was a kid”
Santa’s Tree Farm and Village in Half Moon Bay, California is a family-owned business that will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.
Natalie Sare told Fox News Digital that she met her husband, Dan joined her in owning and operating the 487-acre farm in 1987 while she was in college.
Santa Claus Tree Farm and Village in Half Moon Bay, California is open until 5pm on Christmas Eve. (Natalie Saree)
Since then, she has seen generations of tourists. “People come and they say to me, ‘I used to come here as a kid and now I have my kids here,'” she said.
The Santa Express is a trackless train built by Sarai’s husband and father that takes guests around the farm while playing music.
“We’re exhausted this time of year, but we absolutely love it.”
“People love it. It’s their favorite thing,” Salai said.
Sarai said the puppet show at Elf Studio is particularly meaningful to her. Her son Michael wrote the storyline and provided voices for some of the puppets.
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Santa, described as “comfortable and laid-back”, has been turning up at the farm for 16 years to take photos with families.
There will also be a storytelling event with Mrs. Claus, plus Christmas cookies Bread from a San Francisco bakery can be purchased at Mrs. Claus’s kitchen, Saare said.
People lined up at the farm to buy fresh mistletoe, Saare said.
Natalie Sare said 20,000 visitors are expected to come to Santa Claus Tree Farm and Village to buy Christmas trees this season. (Natalie Saree)
“It’s really cute because you see them kissing against the backdrop of the mistletoe on their heads.”
Tree shopping season begins Nov. 23, and Sare expects up to 20,000 visitors in total, mostly from the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding cities.
The house is spacious and cutting your own tree is “a very personal experience…you can do it alone or with someone” your own family” Sarai said.
Sarai said she enjoys the puppet shows at Elf Studio because her son writes the storyline and voices some of the hand puppets. (Natalie Saree)
No reservations are required (although other tree farms often require one), and there is no admission fee, Saare said.
Pre-cut trees cost $39.95 to $299.00, depending on size, and customer-cut trees cost $96.
Santa’s Tree Farm and Tree Village will be open until 5pm on Christmas Eve.
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“There are a lot of reasons why people want to get a Christmas tree on a given day, and it often comes with a very special story,” Saare said. “I can’t say no.”
“The trees were planted in straight lines and all the kids were running around.”
“We’re exhausted this time of year, but we absolutely love it.”
There are also nature trails
Julie Izzo Niedzwick, customer and employee experience manager at Stokoe Farm in Scottsville, New York, told Fox News Digital that the 212-year-old farm began growing Christmas trees 40 years ago. It is about 20 minutes from Rochester.
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Stokoe Farm is usually open for Christmas tree purchase on weekends before thanksgiving, Nizwick said this is their busiest time.
About 8,000 visitors came to buy trees that weekend, mostly from Western and Southern New York, she said.
Scott and Megan Melville, whose families live across from Stokoe Farm, make it a family tradition to pick out a Christmas tree each year the day after Thanksgiving. (played by Megan Melville)
Nizwick said animal lovers can cuddle wallabies, pet rabbit-like Patagonian maras and view other animals at Kangaroo Ranch.
There is also a petting zoo with goats, small cattle and sheep.
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Nizwick said there was a nature trails There are treehouses, ropes courses, slides and a “hillbilly hen show” where chickens “sing” about life on the farm.
Megan Melville’s husband used to work on the farm, her father-in-law still works there, and three of her five children help out during tree season. (Robert Melville)
She said guests can dine at the Old Barn Grill and enjoy dessert at The Cocoa & Cookie Corner, which offers hot chocolate and Stokoe Farms’ famous cider donuts.
No reservations are required for Christmas tree shopping and admission is free.
Niedzwick said prices start at $40 for pre-cut trees, with prices increasing based on size, variety and grade.
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Fraser fir, Douglas fir and tall-colored fir trees of any size or species cut by visitors are available for $67, up to 8 feet tall, according to the website.
Art teacher Megan Melville told Fox News Digital that she and her husband, Scott, and their blended family have five children aged 17 to 10 , lives across the street from Stokoe Farms.
This year, take your family to a family-owned Christmas tree farm in your area for a true Christmas tree adventure. (Megan Melville; iStock)
“I have two girls and he has three boys, so people always joke that we’re like the ‘Brady Bunch,’ but that’s not the case,” she said.
Melville said her husband worked on the farm when he was younger, and his father still works there during tree season with their three children.
“They send Christmas trees to active-duty military members at home and abroad.”
She said it’s a special tradition that they pick out a Christmas tree every year. The day after Thanksgiving.
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“The trees were planted in a straight line and all the kids were running around…and they each picked a tree that they liked, and then they voted for everyone’s favorite one.”
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Melville said she and her middle school art club decorated as many as 1,000 tree tags as part of the Trees for Troops program in which Stokoe Farms participates.
Melville describes the Christmas tree shopping experience at Stokoe Farms as “like coming home.”
