I am traditionally a bit of a scrooge when it comes to Christmas Trees. This is because, I know I’m going to be the one to get stuck taking it down and it will take up valuable living space while it is in my house for the entire holiday season. And I know that I have been guilty of leaving it up too way too long. I’m not going to say June, but I’m not, not going to say it either.
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Three of my four babies came during the Holidays, and that always makes everything harder. One baby year we waited until the last minute. My husband ran out on December 24th looking for any tree. He finally stopped at Walgreens where they were selling Charlie Brown tabletop trees. We still use that one as a centerpiece. I will always love that tree.
After the Charlie Brown year, we decided it would be best to give up on real trees for awhile and just go with artificial until the kids were older. Last year, we decided our kids were old enough and we were ready to add a new family tradition. I did the research below, and we packed up our family and spent a beautiful November afternoon selecting and cutting down our own Christmas tree. Besides a fun day out and the beautiful aroma of a real pine tree, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the needles of a fresh tree did not fall everywhere like some past Home Depot parking lot trees had done.
4 Reasons to Skip the Artificial Tree
Do you long for the smell of real pine, but worry real a Christmas tree come with messy sap? Despite the fact that my house is small with limited space, we have opted to only get real Christmas Trees in the future, and this is why:
My Artificial Tree STILL Dropped Needles Everywhere!
You would think, if you are going to get a plastic tree, it would not shed. It does. Worse, now they are not organic pine needles, and they can’t just be swept out the door or into the organics bin. Instead, I have little plastic needles fall on me whenever I dig around in our basement storage room all year round.
The Pre-Lit Bulbs Give Out Before the Tree
It sounds convenient, but once these bulbs no longer work, they are just in the way. I still have to buy lights and try not to confuse them with the non-working bulbs (that don’t come off the tree) when I take the tree down. It makes everything more difficult.
Even the Best Artificial Christmas Trees Require Storage
I admit I may not have bought the best choice in artificial Christmas tree products. But, even if I try to go down that road again, I’ll have to take up a good chunk of storage space for the new tree.
What Do You Do With a No-Longer Useful Faux Tree?
Send it to the dump? I just don’t want to be an end user anymore. At least real trees get a second life as woodchips and can even be set out in the garden to provide shelter for birds.
Where to Find Real Christmas Trees
Now that I’ve decided on the real Christmas Tree. I have two choices: (1) find a local Christmas Tree lot to select among fresh pre-cut trees; or (2) go to a Minnesota Christmas tree farm where families can chop down their own live Christmas trees or pick out a pre-cut tree. Prior to last year, I had never done the cut-your-own thing. I was so much fun for the family to pick the perfect tree to bring home. We did not make a homemade wreath with the trimmings, but that would be a fun extra.
Cut Real Trees at a Christmas Tree Farm
The list below is a result of my research so we could choose a farm to visit Thanksgiving weekend. If you have suggestions of farms I’ve missed, leave us a comment so we can check them out and share with the community. I’m noting distances from the center of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Obviously travel times will vary greatly by where in the metro you are located.
Family-Owned Farm East of the Twin Cities
Krueger’s Christmas Trees
10970 43rd Street North, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Opening Day:Â November 15, 2023. Reservations required.
Hours:Â Mon-Thurs: 12-7pm; Fri-Sun: 9am-7pm. Cut-Your-Own Fields Close at 4:30pm.
Distance from Cities: Approximately 30 minutes.
Details: Choosing where to buy our tree was not easy as all of these farms seem great, but ultimately we went with Krueger’s Christmas Trees. We were not disappointed. Smoothly run by professionals who knew what they were doing; from parking to tying our tree onto our van’s roof, we were taken care of during the whole stress-free visit so we could concentrate on a family day of fun. We went home with a wooden keepsake ornament that we hope to collect from year to year.
Best Christmas Tree Farms Northwest of the Twin Cities
Goldenman’s Christmas Tree Farm
11055 245th Avenue, County Road 19, Zimmerman, MN 55398
Opening Day: November 18, 2023
Hours: Weekends 9am-5pm; Weekdays 3pm-5pm; Fridays 1pm-5pm.
Distance from Cities: Approximately 45 minutes.
Details: Cut your own tree and pay as you exit. Other family fun includes, live animals, hayrides, games, scavenger hut and hot cider.
Hansen Tree Farm
7440 Alpine Dr., Ramsey, MN 55303
Opening Day: November 17, 2023 (through December 10th)
Hours: Friday through Sunday: 9am-5pm.
Distance from Cities: Approximately 30 minutes.
Details: This farm has a pre-set all-inclusive price. $150 in 2023, includes the tree in the size and species of your choice, hayrides, live music (on certain dates), both a communal bonfire and your own private campfire, Christmas sausage, hot cocoa and cider.
Our Farm Christmas Trees
4271 210th Avenue NW, Oak Grove, MN 55303
Opening Day: November 18, 2023
Hours: Mon-Thurs 12pm-7pm and Fri-Sun 9am-7pm (Cut your own closes at dusk)
Distance from Cities: Approximately 35 minutes.
Details: Family owned tree farm. Cut your own or pre-cut. Maps are given to visitors upon arrival and available trees are tagged and labeled. We were alerted to this farm because they also have a nightly Holiday Light Display.
Road Trip Worthy: Cornerstone Pines
19180 281st Ave, Grey Eagle, MN 56336
Opening Day: November 18, 2023
Hours: Fri-Sat: 9am-6pm; Sun: 11m-6pm (or by appointment)
Distance from Cities: Approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes.
Details: This is a longer drive, but can be a full day of Holiday fun in central Minnesota. Families can visit Santa’s Workshop, crawl through straw tunnels, take a photo in Santa’s sleigh, visit the petting zoo, warm up in Mrs. Claus’ Cottage. Plus, on certain days there will be horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledding or tubing (when snow allows) and other special events.
Northeast of the Twin Cities
Countryside Christmas Tree Farm
10021 47th Street N., Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Opening Day: Friday, November 24th at 9:00 am
Hours: Daily 9am-6pm.
Distance from Cities: Approximately 30 minutes.
Details: Precut and Cut Your Own options.
Jan’s Cut Your Own Christmas Trees
12519 37th Street SE, Clear Lake, MN 55319
Opening Day: Open daily Nov 18, 2023 through Christmas eve, except Thanksgiving Day.
Hours: 9am – 5pm.
Distance from Cities: Approximately 1 hour.
Details: Find a wide variety of tree species, such as the Colorado blue spruce, Balsam Fir, and Norway pine.
Best Days to Visit: November 24-26, 2023 and December 2-3, 2023: Horse drawn wagon rides, a straw pile play area, blacksmith demos. Food available for purchase will include kettle corn, roasted nuts as well as s’mores, hot dogs and brats to roast on the bonfire.
Rum River Tree Farm
21050 Lake George Blvd NW, Oak Grove, MN 55303
Opening Day: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Farm Hours: Daily (except Thanksgiving) 9am – 4:15pm.
Distance from Cities: Approximately 1 hour.
Details:Â 280 acres of cut-your-own Christmas trees along the beautiful Rum River. Trees include Balsam, Scotch Pine, White Pine, Spruce (Colorado, Black Hills, White), Fraser Fir and Norway Pine.
Best Days to Visit: Visit the weekend after Thanksgiving or the first weekend of December for FREE hayrides, pony rides, petting farm, Santa visits, coloring books and candy canes for kids, and a waffle food truck.
St. Croix Valley Trees
458 Rice Lake Rd, Somerset, WI 54025
Opening Day: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Hours: Weekends 9am-4pm; Wed-Fri (beginning 11/26/23) 11am-4pm.
Distance from Cities: Approximately 45 minutes.
Details: This place has the COOLEST play area. You can see it on Google. That alone may make it a great family tree cutting destination.Â
South of the Twin Cities
Hampton Hills Tree Farm
 998 310th St Way, Cannon Falls, MN 55009
Opening Day: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Hours: Open 9am – 4:15pm daily except Thanksgiving
Distance from Cities: Approximately 45 minutes.
Details: Precut and Cut Your Own options: Fraser Fir, Balsam, Scotch Pine, White Pine, Norway Pine, Colorado Spruce. Family fun includes horse-drawn hayrides, Santa visits, coloring books and candy canes for kids, and a mini-donut food truck during Thanksgiving weekend and the first weekend of December.
Best Places to Get Real Trees in the Cities
Saint Paul & Minneapolis:
Saint Paul Farmers Market
Address: 290 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
Hours: Weekdays 12pm-8pm; Weekends 9am-7pm
Details: Wolcyn Tree Farms & Nursery will operate the Christmas Tree Lot at Saint Paul’s downtown farmers market for its 17th year. Christmas tree options include fragrant Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine, and White Pine. The lot at Saint Paul Farmers’ Market offers many sizes as well as decorated wreaths, garland roping, and spruce tips.
Bachman’s on Lyndale
Address: 6010 Lyndale Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Hours: Times vary.
Details: Santa and Albert are back live with weekend performances of their latest play, Be Your Best (S)Elf and reindeer will be onsite on three Saturdays, November 19th, November 26th and December 3rd.
Happy Land Tree Lot
Keg & Case Marketplace, 928 West Seventh Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Hours: Weekdays 10am-7pm; Saturday 9am-7pm; Sunday 10am-5pm.
Details: Happy Land does have a tree farm an hour and a half north of the cities, but that seems like a long drive with a tree on your roof.
Northwest Metro Christmas Tree Lots:
Goldenman’s Christmas Tree Lots
Coborn’s, 19425 Evans St NW, Elk River, MN 55330
1500 Howard Ave, Maple Plain, MN 55359
Hours: Elk River: Black Friday & Saturdays 9am-8pm; Sundays 9am-6pm; Weekdays 12pm-8pm.
Maple Plain: Black Friday & Saturdays 9am-8pm; Sundays 10am-6pm; Weekdays 3pm-8pm
Details: A variety of pre-cut Christmas trees, wreaths and pots.
Southwest Metro Christmas Tree Lots:
B&J Evergreen Christmas Tree Lots
Addresses:
Eden Prairie Center, 8251 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
  Hours: Mon-Thur: 11am-8pm; Fri-Sat: 9am-9pm; Sun: 9am-8pm
Louisiana Oaks Park, 3500 Louisiana Ave. S., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
  Hours: Mon-Thur: 9am-8:30pm; Fri-Sun: 9am-9pm
Richfield Farmers Market, 6335 Portland Ave., Richfield, MN 55423
  Hours: Sun-Thur: 9am-8:30pm; Fri-Sat: 9am-9pm
Opening Day: November 18, 2023 (Check website for special opening weekend hours)
Details: Quality fresh trees including Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Korean Fir, Canaan Fir, White Pine, Scotch Pine, Norway Pine and Colorado Blue Spruce. Other products include wreaths, garland, spruce tops, and porch and yard decor.
Rum River Tree Farm Metro Tree Lots
Addresses:
Find a list of open lots here.
Opening Day: Varies by lot.
Hours: Varies by lot.
Details: Print a coupon good for $3 off any tree.
Good Shepherd Christmas Tree Lot
Address: Good Shepherd School. 145 Jersey Ave S. Golden Valley, MN 55426
Open: Nov 24-26, Dec 1-3, 2023
Hours: 10am-6pm.
Details: Proceeds over the years have provided more than 100 free Christmas Trees to families in need, funded classroom upgrades and enhancements, playground additions and equipment, extracurricular materials, and more to Good Shepherd School. Pre-order your tree here.
Best Day to Visit: Dec 2, 2023, 11am-3pm, includes a Christmas Market. Get FREE Santa photos, shop an indoor artist and vendor market and find Holiday Refreshments.
Where did my Favorite Tree Farm Go?
Blackwoods Farm
Stillwater, MN 55082
During the summer of 2022, Blackwoods Tree Farm announced on Facebook that they have decided to retire and would no longer be selling trees at Christmas time. Enjoy your retirement!
I know this article sounds a bit like a paid promotion for the Christmas Tree Growers Association, but really it is just my current opinion. If you have a favorite Christmas Tree Farm or a favorite artificial Christmas tree that you want to share with the community, leave a comment below. We would love to hear form you.