It used to be that trips out to the country to get a Christmas tree were a simple exercise: A walk out to a friendly farmer’s field to cut down the tree, perhaps with the children in tow.
But tree farms in the far suburbs and close rural areas increasingly are turning the trip to cut down a fresh Christmas tree into an event.
Tree farmers in outlying areas try to draw customers from up to three hours away and must compete with the much easier alternatives of the artificial tree or the corner Christmas tree lot. So the fresh-cut-tree farmers have now packed their tree farms with enough Yuletide events so that families can make a day of it.
The trees are not inexpensive, ranging from about $25 all the way up to $125 for a 15-foot beauty. But many of the extras and amenities tree farmers now provide are free.
Oney’s Tree Farm near Woodstock perhaps has gone the farthest with this idea, creating an overnight travel package for Chicago-area residents. For $89 plus tax, the tree farm provides an overnight stay in a Holiday Inn Express, a breakfast bar and a 9-foot Scotch pine. At the tree farm, package travelers and regular tree buyers get to walk through a small exotic animal zoo, a bakery and an Old World Christmas Market complete with roasting chestnuts.
“We wanted to have a way where people didn’t just hustle out, grab a tree and run home. It’s a way to relax and spend time together with your family,” says Ron Peterson, owner of Oney’s Tree Farm.
Chris Keller, owner of the Cupola House Tree Farm near Bourbonnais, has hayrides and uses a new greenhouse where tree shoppers can warm up their toes. Most remarkably, he is now offering local home delivery and set-up for those unable or unwilling to go out to his farm. (The price for this service has not yet been set.)
“It could turn out to be a terrible pain, but we did want to do something for people who just can’t come out, such as the seniors,” Keller says.
Keller said it is almost as important to provide Christmas ambience and activities as trees to his customers.
“Really, we aren’t selling trees, we are selling an experience,” he says.
In Rockton, along the Winnebago-Boone County line, the Williams Tree Farm has set up a horse trolley to pull customers out to the tree fields. Busy customers who can come to cut down a tree only at night do so under outdoor halogen lighting.
“We’ve grown every year trying to accommodate everything the customer wants,” said Margaret Williams. “We had a couple of customers ask why couldn’t they come at night, and we always said you can’t do that out in the dark in the middle of the country. And then we said, `Well, why not?’ “
Most tree farms provide saws for cutting down the trees and twine or netting to tie them to cars, but the tree shopper must provide the elbow grease. Most tree farms will also compact the tree in a baler and mechanically shake the trees, to shake out any pests, dirt or snow.
Most tree farms do not sell boots and mittens, however. If there is one thing that ruins a trip out to the country, it is not dressing properly.
“I’ve had a few people come in from the city literally in high heels. We do a lot of work on these trees, but we don’t build sidewalks between them,” says Juliet Ide, of the Ide Tree Farm in Downers Grove Township.
Below is a list of some of the tree farms in the outlying Chicago area. Some of the activities listed below may be canceled because of harsh weather conditions.
ARMBSY TREE FARM, 10409 Button Rd., Hebron. 815-648-4941. Hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 and Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 19. Cost: $25 per tree. Trees: Scotch and white pines; blue spruce. Attractions and amenities: Tractor hayrides; hot cider and coffee.
ANDERSON TREE FARM, 3 miles west of Plainfield on Illinois Highway 126. 815-436-2140. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Cost: $5 per foot for most trees. Trees: Scotch and white pines, Douglas firs, Norway spruce. Attractions and amenities: Zoo with about 100 animals, including emus, alpacas, miniature horses and wallabies; hot chocolate; popcorn; a golf cart to carry patrons to their tree. Other Christmas decorations: balled and burlapped trees.
BEN-LEY TREE FARM, 18111 W. State Line Rd., on Illinois-Wisconsin state line road, seven miles east of Antioch. 847-395-6360. Hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 and every Saturday and Sunday thereafter until Christmas, or by appointment. Cost: Under 10 feet, $40; over 10 feet, $75. Trees: White and red pines; Douglas and balsam firs, European, blue and Colorado spruce. Attractions and amenities: Heated barn; cider. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths, evergreen garlands, fresh poinsettias, hand-blown glass ornaments from Europe and some pre-cut trees.
CUPOLA HOUSE TREE FARM, 4030 N3000W Rd., 2 1/2 miles northwest of Bourbonnais, by Kankakee River State Park. 815-932-6635. Hours: 9 a.m. until dark beginning Thanksgiving Day through Dec. 19. Cost: $3.75 per foot for pines up to 10 feet tall; $6 per foot for spruce and firs. Trees: Scotch and white pines; Fraser and Douglas firs; Colorado blue and Norway spruce. Attractions and amenities: hayrides, wood fire; hot drinks; free drilling for spike stands. Other Christmas decorations: balled and burlapped live trees; wreaths and garlands.
FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE FARM: Illinois Highway 59 and Petite Lake Road, Lake Villa. 847-949-5760 or 847-949-0172. Hours: 8:30 a.m. until dusk Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning Nov. 26 until Dec. 19. Cost: $37. Trees: Scotch pines. Amenities and attractions: petting zoo with sheep, goats, rabbits and a calf; hayrides. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths, roping, and a crafts barn.
GRANDPA’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM: On Illinois Highway 176 1 1/2 miles west of Illinois Highway 47 near Woodstock. 815-33-SANTA. www.grandpastreefarm.com. Hours: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 26, 27, 28; Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12. Cost: $40. Shaking and baling: $3. Trees: Red, white and Scotch pines. Attractions and amenities: Hot chocolate and coffee, horse-drawn wagons. Other Christmas decorations: some pre-cut Fraser firs; wreaths and ropings.
HARMAS FARMS OF DELAVAN, two plantations located at N4865 County Rd. M off of U.S. Highway 14 near Delavan, Wis. 262-728-8381 or 800-728-8898. Harmas I: Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Cost: $3 to $6 per foot. Trees: Balsam fir and white spruce. Harmas II: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning Nov. 26 through Dec. 19. Cost: $45. Trees: Fraser fir; Norway and Colorado blue spruce. Other Christmas decorations available: wreaths; 24-inch decorated Balsam firs, pre-cut trees (at Harmas I).
HAYDEN TREE FARM, 42880 N. Hunt Club Rd., 1 1/2 miles north of Illinois Highway 173 in rural Antioch. 847-395-4127. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas, and by appointment. Cost: Under 5 feet, $37; 5 feet and over white and Scotch pines, $42; over 5 feet spruce or fir, $48. Trees: white and Scotch pines; Douglas and white fir; spruce. Attractions and amenities: Hot cocoa, tea or coffee; snow sleds for hauling trees or children. Other Christmas decorations: handmade wreaths, garlands, fresh-cut boughs, hand-painted crafts, handmade wooden reindeer, balled and burlapped 4-to-5-foot Black Hills spruce, potted Dwarf Alberta spruce.
HONEYBEE ACRES CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, 41W072 Bowes Rd., Elgin. 847-464-XMAS or e-mail HBAxmas@aol.com. Hours. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 19 through Dec. 12 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Cost $25.35. Trees: Scotch pines. Attractions and amenities: hot cider, cookies and a coloring book; wood stove for warming; farm animals and birds. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths, garlands; free tree stands. Restrictions: bring your own saw and no dogs.
IDE TREE FARM, 1500 83rd St., Downers Grove Township. 630-985-9299. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Nov. 26 and daily until stock sold. Cost: $40. Trees: Austrian, white and Scotch pines; Norway and Colorado blue spruce. Also sold: pre-cut Fraser firs.
JURSA CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, 17113 Davey Rd., Lemont. 630-972-9655. Hours 8 a.m. to dusk Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as Dec. 20, 21, 22 and 23. Cost: $40. Trees: Spruce, Scotch pines. Attractions and amenities: free candy canes and cookies.
LUERS CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, 6303 W. 91st Ave., Crown Point, Ind. 219-663-2832. Cost: Generally, $4 per foot for Scotch pine, and $4.50 per foot for many other trees. Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk daily through Dec. 23. Attractions and amenities: hot chocolate; warming rooms with fireplace. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths.
ONEY’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, 16608 U.S Highway 14, rural Woodstock. 815-338-4108. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Dec. 19. Cost: $36 to $150. Trees: red, white and Scotch pines; blue, white and Norway spruce; Douglas, fraser and concolor firs. Attractions and amenities: Mrs. Claus’ Gingerbread House; pony rides; reindeer; deer; llamas; miniature donkeys; horse-drawn rides; Old World Christmas market; St. Nick will appear from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5. A St. Lucia Choir will perform from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12.
OSWEGO CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, one mile west of Oswego on U.S Highway 34. 630-554-8881. Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk daily until stock is sold. Cost: $33. Trees: Douglas fir; Scotch and white pines; limited number of Austrian pine and white spruce. Attractions and amenities: coffee, hot chocolate. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths, roping available by special order.
OUR TREE FARM, 3206 E. 19th Rd., Ottawa. 815-434-6388. www.
ourchristmastreefarm.com. Hours: 9 a.m. to dark Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 18. Cost: $34 to $45. Trees: blue and white spruce; Fraser and concolor firs; Scotch pines. Attractions and amenities: hayride, hot chocolate and apple cider. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths, roping, pre-cut trees and gift shop.
PAUL’S TREE FARM, 16239 W. Beloit Newark Rd., Brodhead, Wis. 608-897-2569. www.paulstreefarm.com. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until Christmas. Cost: $14.29 to $46.97. Trees: Scotch, Norway and white pines; white, Norway, Black Hills and blue spruce; Fraser firs. Attractions and amenities: craft shop. Other Christmas decorations: handmade wreaths; pre-cut trees for $3 to $15.
PINE-APPLE TREE FARM, 309 Three Oaks Rd., Cary. 847-639-3248. Web address: (No WWW) User.mc.net/(tilde)pinetree. Hours: all day Nov. 26; 3 p.m. to dusk Thursdays and Fridays; 9 a.m. to dusk Saturdays and Sundays until stock depleted. Cost: $40 to $60. Trees: Douglas and Fraser firs; Colorado blue and Black Hills spruce, Scotch pines. Other Christmas decorations for sale: tree stands; handmade wreaths; pre-cut Fraser firs.
PIONEER TREE FARM, three miles north of McHenry on Pioneer Road. 815-385-8512 or 815-338-0393. www.owx.net/(tilde) trees. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 and then Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas. Trees: Scotch, red and white pines; spruce. Cost: $25 for pines; $35 for spruce. Amenities and attractions: hayrides, warming house; hot cocoa and coffee. Ten percent of sales is donated to the McHenry County Defenders.
RICHARDSON FARM, 9407 Richardson Rd., 1 1/2 miles north of Spring Grove. 815-675-2297 or 815-675-2011. Hours 9 a.m. to dusk daily. Cost: $33 to $38. Trees: pines, firs and spruce. Attractions and amenities: tractor-pulled wagon rides and working farm. Other Christmas decoration sold: wreaths, garland; pre-cut trees.
SPRING BLUFF NURSERY, 41W130 Norris Rd., Sugar Grove. 630-466-4278. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 12. Cost: $30. Trees. White and Scotch pines; some Austrian and red pines; spruce. Attractions and amenities: tractor-pulled hayride; bonfire; hot chocolate. Other Christmas decorations: handmade wreaths decorated with dried flowers and ornaments.
TAMMEN TREEBERRY FARM, 37131 Essex Rd., near Braidwood, approximately 20 miles south of Joliet. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Cost: $35. Trees: Scotch, white; Fraser and Douglas fir. Tree stands also for sale.
TREES ON BROADWAY, 6219 Broadway, Richmond. 815-678-4425. Hours: 9 a.m. to dark daily until Christmas. Cost: $30 for pines. Trees: Scotch and white pine; balsam, Douglas and Fraser fir. Attractions and amenities: wagon rides and hot cider on weekends. Other Christmas decorations for sale: wreaths, garlands, bows, gifts and pre-cut trees.
VALLEY VIEW CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, 6440 Belvidere Rd., Roscoe, four miles north of Illinois Highway 173. 815-623-2730. E-mail at vvtf1@aol.com. Hours: Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Cost: $28. Trees: white and Scotch pines; balsam and Douglas Fir, blue spruce. Attractions and amenities: wagon rides; free cookies and wassail. Other Christmas decorations: Wreaths; garlands and boughs; gift shop in old dairy barn with Old World ornaments and pre-cut trees.
WILLIAMS TREE FARM, 4661 Yale Bridge Rd., Rockton. 815-624-7579 or 800-423-6635. www.williamstreefarm.com. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving Day with hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: pines, $26.40 for up to 9 feet, $32 for 9 feet and over; spruces and firs, $30 minimum and $6 a foot. Trees: Scotch and white pines; Norway and Colorado blue spruce; balsam and Fraser fir. Attractions and amenities: horse-drawn wagon rides; north woods cabin and gift shop; trolley rides and kiddy train; cafe; reindeer; maze and covered bridge. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths and roping. Lit at night.
WINTERGREEN FARMS, 1421 B, 47th Rd., northeast of Earlville in LaSalle County. 815-246-7276. Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday till Christmas. Cost: $23.50. Trees: Scotch, white and Austrian pines; Douglas firs. Attractions and amenities: animals including miniature donkeys and llamas; hot cider; indoor floral shop specializing in dried flowers. Other Christmas decorations: Fresh evergreen wreaths; roping; swags.
ZIEGLER’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, 42W109 McDonald Rd., Elgin. 847-464-5776. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday beginning Nov. 26 until stock sold. Cost: $15 to $65. Trees: Scotch and white pines; blue spruce; Douglas and balsam fir.
