It may be faster and more convenient to go down to your local Christmas tree lot for this year’s holiday greenery, but if you plan the errand as a day trip to a tree farm it can turn into a whole day’s worth of family fun in the great outdoors. Here is our annual list of Christmas tree farms in the area, where, in addition to tree-cutting, you can take hayrides, visit animals, check out other holiday decorations and enjoy hot drinks and snacks.
Anderson Tree Farm, 502 W. Rt. 126, Plainfield, 815-436-2140. Trees: Scotch and white pine, Douglas fir and Norway spruce. Cost: $55 per foot for most trees. Attractions and amenities: a zoo with about 100 animals including emus, alpacas, miniature horses and wallabies; hot chocolate; popcorn; and golf cart rides to the trees. Hours: 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
Armsby Tree Farm, 10409 Button Rd., Hebron, 815-648-4941. Cost: $25 per tree. Trees: Scotch, red and white pines; Norway and blue spruce. Attractions and amenities: Tractor hayrides; cookies, candy canes, hot cider and coffee. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 23.
Ben’s Christmas Tree Farm, Ryan Road, Harvard, 630-279-0216. Cost: $20 and up. Varieties include Fraser, balsam, Douglas and concolor firs, white, Austrian, Scotch and red pine and Norway spruce. Saws and twine are provided and there are washrooms on site. Farm staff happily helps senior citizens with cutting and tying trees to their cars. All activities are free. Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekends; 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Ben-Ley Tree Farm, 18111 W. State Line Rd., Antioch, 815-943-0677. Cost: Under 12 feet, $40; over 12 feet, $85. 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. Tree transport from fields to parking lot available. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas, or by appointment.
Cupola House Tree Farm, 4030 N3000W Rd., Bourbonnais, 815-932-6635. Cost: $3.75 per foot for pines up to 10 feet tall; $6.25 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. Hours: 9 a.m. until dark through Dec. 20.
Family Christmas Tree Farm, Route 59 and Petite Road, Lake Villa. 847-949-0172. Cost: $37. Trees: Scotch pines and Balsam (pre-cut). Amenities and attractions: petting zoo with sheep, goats, rabbits and a calf; hayrides. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths, roping, and a crafts barn. Hours: 8:30 a.m. until dusk Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22.
Green Garden Christmas Tree Farm, southern Will County. 815-469-2233 or 815-478-4888. Directions: From Frankfort, take U.S. Hwy. 45 south for nine miles. Turn west at Pauling Road (271st Street) and drive a half mile. Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk daily. Call first; on some days Green Garden is open later than on others. Cost: $35. Trees: Scotch pines.
Grandpa’s Christmas Tree Farm, 13616 Rt. 176, Woodstock, 815-337-2682. Cost: $45 includes shaking and baling. 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. Hours: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10.
Harmas Farms of Delavan, N4865 County Rd. M, Delavan, 262-728-8381; 800-728-8898. Cost: $45 for 8-15 foot trees. Trees: Fraser fir; Norway and Colorado spruce. Other Christmas decorations available: wreaths; 24-inch decorated Balsam firs, pre-cut trees (at Harmas I). Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Cost: $3 to $6 per foot. Trees: Balsam fir, white pine and white spruce. Harmas II: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17.
Hayden Tree Farm, 42880 N. Hunt Club Rd., Antioch, 847-395-4127. Cost: Under 5 feet, $38; 5 feet and over white and Scotch pines, $43; over 5 feet spruce or fir, $49. 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, potted Dwarf Alberta spruce. Shake, bale and net trees. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas, and by appointment.
Honeybee Acres Christmas Tree Farm, 41W072 Bowes Rd., Elgin, 847-464-9627. Cost $25-$38. Trees: Scotch pines, spruces, firs. 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 allowed. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 10.
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. Attractions and amenities: hot chocolate; warming rooms with fireplace. Other Christmas decorations: wreaths and grave blankets made to order. Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk daily through Dec. 23.
Oswego Christmas Tree Farm, 106 Riverwood Drive, Oswego, 630-554-8881. 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. Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk daily until stock is sold.
Oney’s Christmas Tree Farm, 16608 N. Route 14, Woodstock, 815-338-4108. Cost: $39 to $52. Trees: red, white and Scotch pines; blue, green, white and Norway spruce; Douglas and fraser firs. Netting and shaking are free. Attractions and amenities: Mrs. Claus’ Gingerbread House; live reindeer; deer, llamas and miniature donkeys; horse-drawn rides; roasted chestnuts; Old World Christmas craft market; Madrigal choir on Dec. 2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Dec. 18.
Our Tree Farm, 3206 E. 19th Rd., Ottawa, 815-434-6388. 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. Hours: 9 a.m. to dark Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 17.
Pine-Apple Tree Farm, 309 Three Oaks Rd., Cary, 847-639-3248. Cost: $40 to $60. Trees: Douglas firs; Colorado blue and Black Hills spruce, Scotch pines. Other Christmas decorations for sale: tree stands, handmade wreaths and pre-cut Fraser firs. Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk Saturdays and Sundays until Christmas.
Pioneer Tree Farm, 4614 N. Pioneer Rd., McHenry 815-385-8512. Cost: $30 for pines; $35 for spruce and fir. Trees: Scotch, red and white pines; spruce; fir. Amenities and attractions: homemade crafts, wreaths, boughs, wagon rides, warming house; hot cocoa and coffee. Ten percent of sales is donated to the McHenry County Defenders. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 17.
Richardson Farm, 9407 Richardson Rd., Spring Grove, 815-675-2297. Cost: $33 to $38. Trees: pines, firs and spruce. Attractions and amenities: homemade doughnuts, coffee, hot chocolate, tractor-pulled wagon rides, working farm and indoor restrooms. Other Christmas decoration sold: wreaths, garland; pre-cut trees. Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk daily.
Spring Bluff Nursery, 41W130 Norris Rd., Sugar Grove, 630-466-4278. Cost: $35. 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. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 17.
Valley View Christmas Tree Farm, 6440 Belvidere Rd., Roscoe, 815-623-2730. 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. 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.
Williams Tree Farm, 4661 Yale Bridge Rd., Rockton, 815-624-7579; 800-423-6635. Cost: pines, $27.50 for up to 9 feet, $35 for 9 feet and over. 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. Santa visits Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Ziegler’s Christmas Tree Farm, 42W109 McDonald Rd., Elgin, 847-464-5776. Cost: $15 to $65. Trees: Scotch, Austrian and white pines; blue spruce; Douglas and balsam fir. Other Christmas decorations: gift shop, garland, wreaths. Saws provide. Shaking and baling available. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sundays until stock sold.
