It’s beginning to look a lot like … Wait, I’ve worked at publications that banned reporters from using that hokey introduction, but Christmas is approaching, and with it comes the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree.
Some may opt to buy a precut tree or take a greener (in one sense) approach with an artificial tree. But if you’re like Clark Griswold in “Christmas Vacation” and in search of an old-fashioned family Christmas, it’s hard to beat packing up the family for a little fun and adventure. There’s no shortage of places promoting themselves as Christmas tree farms, so let’s look at a few — one for each of the 12 days of Christmas — in no particular order. As always with these lists, we’re only scratching the surface. Just because your favorite place is omitted here doesn’t mean it’s not worthy of a visit with your family.
Expect prices at close to $8 per foot, but costs vary widely, and many farms may charge a set price.
Clark’s Christmas Tree Farm and Christmas Shop
351 Pusey Mill Road, Cochranville, Pennsylvania
This Chester County farm opens for the season on Sunday, Nov. 21. You can either cut your own tree or have the staff do it for you. Varieties include Fraser, Douglas, Canaan and spruce, with trees as large as 20 feet. Shop at the on-site Christmas store.
Linvilla Orchards
137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, Pennsylvania
You may remember Linvilla from our apple-picking list a few months ago. Linvilla features hayrides to its Christmas tree fields, where you can choose from Douglas or Canaan firs. There’s always plenty to do at Linvilla, including a visit to the farm store.
Tuckamony Farm
6320 Upper York Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania
Founded in 1929, Tuckamony bills itself as one the oldest family-run Christmas tree farms in the country and is run by Lars Crooks, great-grandson of founder Forrest C. Crooks. Tuckamony has both choose-and-cut trees and precut trees, as well as fresh holly and wreaths.
Westlake Tree Farms
2421 N. Camp Hill Road Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Another longtime Christmas tree farm (dates to 1949), Westlake is a 160-acre fourth-generation business that features Fraser fir, Norway spruce, Concolor fir and Canaan fir. Most are precut, but some cut-your-own options are available. Make some time to explore the Christmas barn.
McArdle’s Holiday Farm
4316 Mechanicsville Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Yet another longtime family farm, the McArdle family has offered a variety of precut, cut-your-own and live trees since 1963.
Foster’s Holly Ridge Tree Farm
116 S. Chew Road, Hammonton, New Jersey
This family farm offers precut Colorado blue spruce, Canaan fir, Douglas fir, Norway spruce and white pine trees, as well as wreaths and grave blankets. Sizes range from those appropriate for your tabletop to 12-foot-tall display trees.
Exley’s Christmas Tree Farms
1535 Tanyard Road, Sewell, New Jersey, and 1512 Monroeville Road, Monroeville, New Jersey
Take your pick of two locations for precut or cut-your-own offerings. Enjoy hayrides to Santa Land featuring animated holiday houses and Thomas the Train. The big guy himself — “Santa, I know him!” — might make an appearance as well.
Coleman’s Christmas Tree Farm
550 Silver Run Road, Middletown, Delaware
Folks in Delaware have options, too, and the Coleman family has operated this farm since 1932. The first Christmas trees were planted in 1955, and by the mid-1980s, the entire farm was devoted to them. Purchase fresh wreaths, roping and other greens for your holiday decorating.
Boswell’s Tree Farm
1093 N. Grange Ave., Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Yet another longstanding family-owned operation, Boswell’s goes back 70 years. Saws are provided or you can bring your own. Look for a second location at the corner of Mill and Collegeville roads. You can bring your dog with your family if you keep it on a leash and clean up after it.
Yeager’s Farm & Market Inc.
1015 Pike Springs Road (Pennsylvania Route 113), Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Yeager’s is a year-round operation, selling mulch, flowers and produce in the spring and summer, pumpkins in the fall and either precut or cut-your-own trees around Christmas.
Wiggins Christmas Tree Farm
1257 Westtown Thornton Road, West Chester, Pennsylvania, and 2176 Gap Newport Pike, Cochranville, Pennsylvania
Established in 1972, the Wiggins family offers Douglas firs at around 7 feet tall at their West Chester farm, while the Cochranville location has trees up to 10 feet tall.
Marsh Creek Tree Farm
301 Marsh Road, Elverson, Pennsylvania
The Marsh Creek website puts to rest the belief that cutting Christmas trees isn’t environmentally sound, noting that for every tree that growers cut, up to three new seedlings are planted. Aside from hayrides to the fields, guests can also enjoy complimentary hot chocolate.
This piece first appeared in the November 2021 issue of MetroKids.
