What’s your family Tree Tradition? Head out the Saturday after Thanksgiving to get it going early? Delay til the last weekend so that all that’s left is the Charlie Brown Christmas tree? Argue about the merits of Blue Spruce vs Frasier Fir? This year, we suggest you start a new tradition ~ and recreate the classic holiday scene of choosing and cutting your own live Christmas tree. This is the year to pack up the car, the kids and your favorite holiday tunes and set out on the hunt with our day trips from Charlotte or weekend trips to the mountains:
DAY TRIP CHOOSE-AND-CUTS
Cedar Lake Tree Farm
Iron Station, NC (26.6 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered:Â Virginia Pine Trees for choose and cut, fraser firs also available
Dates of operation:Â Opens Friday, November 24 with hours as follows through December 20:
- Monday-Saturday: 9am- 8pm
- Sunday: 10am – 8pm
The scoop: Plan a day of holiday fun with kids activities, meeting the farm animals, s’mores and visits with Santa.
Helms Tree Farm
Vale, NC (48.3 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered: Carolina Saphire, White Pine, Leyland Cypress, Red Cedar, Colorado Blue Spruce, Fraser Fir (pre-cut).
Dates of operation:Â Opens Saturday, November 28 and will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.
The scoop:Â Helms’ Christmas Tree Farm, which has been in operation since 1972, practices regenerative planting that replaces each tree cut with a new one the following year.
Pinetop Farm
Salisbury, NC (42.7 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered:Â White Pine, Scotch Pine, Blue Ice, Leyland Cypress, Fraser Fir (pre-cut).
Dates of operation:Â Opens November 18, 8:30-5 p.m. Open Saturdays (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and Sundays (noon – 5 p.m.) through December 17.
The scoop:Â Stock up on fresh wreaths, garland and field tree after you choose your tree.
Penland Christmas Tree Farm
York, SC (36.6 miles)
Types of trees offered: Blue Ice Cypress, Carolina Sapphire Cypress, Cryptomeria, Deodar Cedar, Emerald Green Arborvitae, Leyland Cypress, Loblolly Pine, Nellie R. Stevens Holly, Red Cedar Virginia, Pine White Pine.
Dates of operation: Friday, November 24. Additional hours are Monday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:30 p.m. and Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
The scoop:Â Trees at Penland Christmas Tree Farm are sprawled over 70 acres of land. Grab a saw and a farm map to start your search.
Lutz Christmas Tree Farm
Clover, SC (30.1 miles)
Types of trees offered: Leyland cypress, carolina sapphire, blue ice cypress.
Dates of operation:Â Opens Thanksgiving day at 9 a.m. Season hours are Friday-Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. and Monday-Thursday beginning at 3 p.m.
Grace Tree Farm
Denver, NC (26 miles)
Types of trees offered:Â White Pine, Leland cypress, Carolina Sapphires, Green Giant Arborvitae, Frasier Fir (pre-cut)
Dates of operation:Â Don’t waste a moment! Grace Tree Farm opens Thanksgiving day at 9 a.m.
The scoop:Â Show them some love! It’s their first year open to the public.
WEEKEND ADVENTURES
Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm
Waynesville, NC (146 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered:Â Fraser Fir.
Dates of operation:
- Friday, Nov. 17, 9am-5pm
- Saturday, Nov. 18, 9am-5pm
- Sunday, Nov. 19, 9am-5pm
- Thursday, Nov. 23, 9am-5pm
- Friday, Nov. 24, 9am-5pm (Santa will be here)
- Saturday, Nov. 25, 9am-5pm (Santa will be here)
- Sunday, Nov. 26, 9am-5pm (Santa will be here)
- Friday, Dec. 1, 9am-5pm
- Saturday, Dec. 2, 9am-5pm (Santa will be here)
- Sunday, Dec. 3, 9am-5pm (Santa will be here)
- Friday, Dec. 8, 9am-5pm
- Saturday, Dec. 9, 9am-5pm
- Sunday, Dec. 10, 9am-5pm
The scoop: Finding your perfect tree is easy with simple access and parking, restrooms, handicap facilities and free refreshments. Top off your trip with wreaths and gifts available for purchase.
Smoky Mountain Christmas Tree Farm
Waynesville, NC (146 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered:Â Fraser fir.
Dates of operation:Â Every weekend beginning on Thanksgiving.
The scoop: Trees range in size from 3ft table tops to full-size 9 and 10 foot trees.
Frosty Mountain Christmas Trees
Marshall (144 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered:Â Fraser fir.
Dates of operation: Daily, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The scoop:Â Choose from over 95,000 Fraser fir trees spanning the 300 acre farm.
Cartner Christmas Tree Farm
Newland, NC (114 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered:Â Fraser fir.
Dates of operation:Â Open November 18-19, Thanksgiving Day through November 26, December 2-3 and by appointment on December 9.
The scoop:Â Santa will visit Cartner Farm November 24- 26 and December 2-3 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Nesbitt Christmas Tree Farm
Clyde, NC (141 miles)
Types of trees offered:Â Fraser fir.
Dates of operation:Â Opens November 18. Open all day November 22-26. Weekdays 2 p.m. – sunset, Saturdays 8 a.m. – sunset and Sundays 11 a.m. – sunset.
The scoop:Â The Nesbitt Christmas Tree Farm has been in operation for over 45 years. In addition to your Fraser Fir, pick up wreaths, table arrangements and more.
Greene Tree Farm
Boone, NC (117 miles)
Types of trees offered:Â Fraser fir.
Dates of operation:Â
- November 17–19: Friday 11–5, Saturday 9–5, Sunday 11–5
- November 22–26: Wed 11–4, Thurs, 11–4, Fri 9–5, Sat 9–5, Sun 9–5
- December 1–3: Friday 11–5, Saturday 9–5, Sunday 11–5
- December 9–10: Saturday 9–5, Sunday 12–5
The scoop:Â Set in the picturesque setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greene Tree Farm offers a serene spot to select your tree and grab a fresh wreath for the season.
Mistletoe Meadows Christmas Tree Farm
Laurel Springs, NC (107 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered:Â Fraser fir.
Dates of operation:Â Open on the following days from 9 a.m. until dark:
- November 18 & 19
- November 23, 24, 25, 26
- December 2 & 3
- December 9 & 10
The scoop:Â After selecting your tree, choose a handmade wreath or garland, hop aboard a hay ride and sip hot chocolate and cider.
Reeves Ridge Christmas Trees
Sparta, NC (102 miles from Charlotte)
Types of trees offered:Â Fraser fir.
Dates of operation:Â Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays November 17-December 10. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Additional date is Wednesday, November 22.
The scoop:Â No tree-cutting experience is complete without marshmallow roasting, hot chocolate and cider, visits with Santa and more. Don’t forget to stop by the Christmas Gift Shop before heading home.
