According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are approximately 15,000 Christmas tree farms in the U.S. from which 30 million trees are purchased each Christmas, and many families of all sizes are looking for something special for them. Participating in an annual holiday event that has meaning.
The source said the most popular Christmas trees are from the pine, spruce and fir families. It takes about 7 years for the tree to reach its typical height of 6 to 7 feet.
The first Christmas tree farm was planted in 1901 by farmer and entrepreneur WV McGalliard in Whitehorse, New Jersey.
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Many Christmas tree farms are family-run and not only enchant first-time visitors, but also keep generations of guests returning to revisit 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 to create new memories in light of their own family traditions. (Robert Melville)
Sustainable farms care about the environment. For example, Krueger's Christmas Tree Farm in Lake Elmo, Minn., uses no pesticides and minimizes herbicide use, according to third-generation owner John Krueger.
Several owners and family members shared stories filled with seasonal memories and memories.
“I used to come here a lot when I was a kid.”
Santa's Tree Farm and Village, a family-owned business located in Half Moon Bay, California, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Natalie Saleh told FOX News Digital that she met her husband, Dan, who together own and operate the 487-acre farm, in 1987 when she started working there while in college.
Santa's Tree Farm and Village in Half Moon Bay, California, is open until 5pm on Christmas Eve. (Natalie Sale)
Since then, she has seen generations of visitors. “People come and say to me, 'I used to come here when I was a kid, and now I have a baby here,'” she says.
The Santa Express, a trackless train built by Saleh's husband and his father, takes guests on a farm tour while listening to music.
“We are completely exhausted by this time of year, but we absolutely love it.”
“People love it. That's what they like,” Saleh said.
Saleh said the puppet show at Elf Workshop was especially meaningful to her. Her son Michael writes the stories and narrates some of the hand puppets.
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Santa Claus, who is described as having a “comfortable and easy-going personality,” has been showing up at the farm for photos with families for the past 16 years.
Saleh said there will also be a reading event with Mrs. Claus, and Christmas cookies from a San Francisco bakery will be available for purchase in Mrs. Claus' kitchen.
Saleh said people are lining up to buy fresh mistletoe at the farm.
Natalie Saleh said she expects 20,000 people to shop for trees at Santa's Tree Farm and Village this season. (Natalie Sale)
“It's so cute to see them kissing to the sound of the mistletoe overhead.”
Tree shopping season begins Nov. 23, and Saleh expected up to 20,000 visitors, most from the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding cities.
The property is large, and cutting down one's own tree is a “very personal experience… whether it's by yourself or with your family,” Saleh said.
Saleh said she loves the puppet shows at Elf Workshop because her son writes the stories and narrates some of the hand puppets. (Natalie Sale)
Saleh said reservations are not required (though other tree farms often require reservations) and there is no admission fee.
Pre-cut trees cost between $39.95 and $299.00 depending on size, while customer-cut trees cost $96.
Santa's Tree Farm and Village is open until 5pm on Christmas Eve.
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“There are many reasons why people want to get a Christmas tree on a particular day, and it often comes with a really special story,” Saleh said. “I can't say no.”
“The trees are planted straight up so all the kids can run up and down them.”
“We are completely exhausted by this time of year, but we absolutely love it.”
Complete with nature trails
Julie Izzo Neeswick, customer and staff experience manager at Stocke Farms in Scottsville, New York, told Fox News Digital that Christmas trees began being planted at the 212-year-old farm 40 years ago. That's what he said. It's about 20 minutes from Rochester.
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Stocke Farm typically opens for Christmas tree shopping the weekend before Thanksgiving, which Nieswick said is its busiest time of year.
He said about 8,000 visitors will come tree shopping that weekend, mostly from the western and southern regions of New York.
Scott and Megan Melville's family lives across the street from Stokoe Farm, and it has become a family tradition to pick out their Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving each year. (Megan Melville)
Animal lovers can hold a baby kangaroo, pet a Patagonian mara, which resembles a rabbit, and see other animals at Roo Farm, Neaswick said.
There's also a petting zoo with goats, miniature cows, and sheep.
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There will be a nature trail with a treehouse, ropes course and slides, as well as a “hillbilly henchkin show” where chickens “sing” about life on the farm, Neaswick said.
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 serves hot chocolate and Stokoe Farms' famous cider donuts.
No reservations are required for Christmas tree shopping, and admission is free.
Prices for pre-cut wood start at $40 and increase depending on size, variety and grade, Neeswick said.
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The website says visitors can cut trees of any size or variety up to 8 feet tall, including Fraser fir, Douglas fir, and conqueror fir, for $67.
Art teacher Megan Melville told FOX News Digital that she, her husband Scott, and their blended family of five children, ages 17 to 10, live across the street from Stokoe Farms. spoke.
This year, check out family-owned Christmas tree farms in your area and take your family on a real Christmas tree adventure. (Megan Melville; iStock)
“People always joked that we were like the 'Brady Bunch' because I have two girls and he has three boys, but we're definitely not.” she said.
Melville said her husband worked on the farm when he was younger and her father still works there with their three children during tree season.
“They send Christmas trees to active duty military personnel here and abroad.”
She said it's a special tradition for them to pick out the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving each year.
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“The trees were planted in a straight line and all the children ran up and down…each person chose one tree they liked and everyone voted for their favorite tree.”
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Melville said she and her middle school art club are decorating 1,000 tree tags as part of the “Trees for Troops” program in which Stokoe Farms participates.
Melville described the Christmas tree shopping experience at Stokoe Farms as “like coming home.”
