by Blaire Briody and Rebecca Stolczcourtesy of Big Apple Parent
| Making a family outing to cut down your own Christmas tree is the stuff of tradition!
Area tree farms come alive this month, offering trees, wreaths and swags to carry home and deck your halls — and hot chocolate and cider to warm you up as you choose the perfect pine ... so escape from the Upper East Side for a few hours and enjoy! |  | | WESTCHESTER AND NORTH
Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm
1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights; (914) 245-5111
From Saturday after Thanksgiving, open every day, 10am-4:30pm, through December 16. Get a free cup of hot, piping cider while you choose and cut your own Christmas tree (one free cup for each family member with every tree purchase). Be sure to check out their two farm markets for fresh apple-cider doughnuts, pies, cookies, strudels, wreaths, roping, preserves, honey, cider, and apples. Last year’s prices ranged from $75 to $125.
Hardwick Tree Farm
213 Wood Street, Mahopac (845) 528-5814 ... Open on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cut your own Christmas tree, or have the staff do it down for you. They will tie the tree to your car, and provide all equipment, ropes and measuring sticks. Hot cider and cookies available. Trees are $10 per foot, with a minimum of 5 feet.
Abel Tree Farms
435 N. Clove Road, Verbank; (845) 677-6395 ... Open starting Thanksgiving weekend and every weekend from 9am to dusk until Christmas (excluding Christmas Eve). Thousands of Christmas trees to choose and cut, and scenic views around their 40-acre lake. All trees are $40 and range from small to 8 feet. Complimentary bailing in plastic mesh and handling assistance provided. Also: (free!) hot chocolate, wreaths, tree stands, tree preservatives, and automatic tree watering devices.
Bilmar Nurseries
26 Bilmar Blvd., Pleasant Valley; (845) 635-3206 ... Open the day after Thanksgiving and then 7 days a week until Christmas (including Christmas Eve). Cut your own tree, or buy a pre-cut tree that won’t be cut until the last week of November. Hay wagon and fire truck rides to and from the fields on weekends. Weekend refreshments include hot dogs, hot chocolate and coffee. Supplies, tree bailing, restrooms, and a Christmas shop with crafts are also available.
Solvang Farm
80 Bedell Road, Poughkeepsie (845) 473-0224 ... Opens the day after Thanksgiving. Pick out or cut down your Christmas tree. $37; rope provided. A family friendly farm, they also have a small petting zoo, a refreshment stand and a gift shop.
Graney Tree Farm
Van Keuren Avenue/Lang Drive, Pine Bush, (845) 361-3022 ...
Open the day after Thanksgiving and through Christmas Eve.
$33, any size tree. This six-acre farm also offers decorated and undecorated wreaths. Rope is provided to transport your Christmas tree purchase.
Battenfeld Christmas Tree Farm
856 Rte 199, Red Hook, NY 845-758-8018 ... In addition to 80 acres of choose and cut Christmas trees, Battenfeld Christmas Tree Farm offers old fashioned horse-drawn wagon rides, refreshments (cider, chili, soda, hot dogs, etc.), and even a visit from Santa every weekend. Trees are all priced at $45. They open the Friday after Thanksgiving, from 8am-4pm, 7 days a week until around December 21.
Evergreen Farms
407 N. Tower Hill Road, Millbrook; 845-677-3785 ... Evergreen Farms has Choose & Cut Christmas trees that you don't have to saw down yourself if you don't feel up to it. They have hired help to cut the tree of your choice while you sit back and help yourself to some complimentary hot apple cider. Trees range from $8 to $10/ft. for smaller trees, and $10-$12/ft. for trees over 9 ft. tall. Fresh, hand-made holiday wreaths are available and kids will even get a free candy cane. Open the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, from 9:30-4:30 (note that they usually sell out by the second weekend).
Hahn Farm
1697 Salt Point Turnpike, Salt Point; 845-266-3680 ... Cut-your-own Christmas trees for only $40 each. Pre-cut trees range from $15-$60. They give hayrides to and from the fields, sell wreaths, and their food booth includes hot dogs, soups, coffee, and hot chocolate. Opening the day after Thanksgiving, this farm is open 9:30-5 on weekends, 1-5pm on weekdays. (They close when they run out of trees, around Christmas).
Meadowland Farm
Schultzville Road, Clinton Corners; (845) 266-4966 ... Meadowland Farm sells spruce for only $30 and lush fir trees for $45, as well as larger trees (over 8 feet) upon request. Cut-your-own and fresh pre-cut trees are available on weekends for only the first three weekends in December.
LONG ISLAND
Dart's Christmas Tree Farm
2355 Main Bayview Rd., Southold; (631) 765-4148 ... This 200-year-old historic farm will be open daily 9am-5pm from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve; choose from fresh pre-cut, ChooseNcut, or balled trees, priced at $79 each, plus an additional $25 for a balled tree. They offer hayrides, hot chocolate, snacks, hand-made wreaths, tree-cutting supplies, and even some friendly elves to cut and carry your tree for you. Visit the website for a $5 coupon.
Mike's Christmas Tree Farm
323 Weeks Ave., Manorville; (631) 874-3551 ... Thousands of trees to cut yourself or have someone cut for you. Tree wrapping and saws are provided, and fresh wreaths are available for sale. There’s even traditional music to get you in the Christmas spirit. Open every day from 8am to 5pm, starting from the day after Thanksgiving and closing on Christmas Eve. Prices range from $9-$15 per foot.
Muller's Christmas Tree Farm
338 Woodland Ave., Manorville; (631) 878-1060 ... Muller’s farm is only open for two weekends this season, December 2-3 & 9-10, from 9am until dark. They offer cut-your-own and pre-balled/burlaped trees for an average price of $65. If desired, they will cut your tree for you, wrap it, and tie it to your car. Stop by their Christmas shop to warm up by the cozy wood stove, listen to traditional Christmas music, and get some great photo ops.
North Fork Preserve Christmas Tree Farm
5530 Sound Ave., Riverhead; (631) 369-9592 or (516) 446-6204 ... There are over 5,000 trees to choose from at this Christmas tree farm. Opening the day after Thanksgiving from 9am-4pm, until December 23, you can stop by the farm, tag the tree you want, then return before Christmas to cut it down yourself, dig it out, or have someone cut it for you. Netting, robes, and saws provided. Hayride available after Thanksgiving. Prices are $55 for cut tree and $75 for a balled tree.
Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm
Main Rd. & Elijahs Lane, Mattituck; (631) 298-4118 ... This Christmas tree farm has everything from Santa visits on weekends to the Shamrock Express train that cruises around the farm’s perimeter. They offer a selection of pre-cut trees that range from $16-$110, cut-your-own for $60, or live trees from $40-$100. Everything is provided, including saws, netting, and someone to tie the tree to your car. To top it all off, have a complimentary cup of hot chocolate or a bag of popcorn, and be sure to check out their handmade wreaths and crafts. They’re open November 24 from 9am-5pm until Christmas Day, with Santa there every Saturday and Sunday from 2-5pm.
Tilden Lane Farm
48 Wyckoff St., Greenlawn; (631) 261-6392 ... Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9am-3pm, December 1-17. Cut your own Christmas tree, with your hand saw or theirs. Dress appropriately for cold weather and, as this is a working farm, sturdy shoes are a must. They also have wreaths, bundled boughs, pine cones, and holly for sale. Prices are as follows: $45 for frasier fur, $40 for all other varieties under 10 ft., $60 for trees over 10 ft. While you’re there, be sure to enter to win a Free Tree for the 2007 season! No purchase necessary. |
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