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 your location in the Twin Cities metro area.
Family-owned farms east of the Twin Cities
Krueger’s Christmas Trees
10970 43rd Street North, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Opening day: November 15, 2023. Reservations required.
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 12-7pm; Fri-Sun: 9am-7pm. Cut-your-own fields close at 4:30pm.
Distance from the Twin 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.
Countryside Christmas Tree Farm
10021 47th Street N, Lake Elmo MN 55042
Opening day: Friday, November 24th at 9am
Hours: Daily, 9am-6pm
Distance from Cities: Approximately 30 minutes
Details: Pre-cut and cut-your-own options for trees
Best Christmas tree farms northwest of the Twin Cities
Hansen Tree Farm
7440 Alpine Dr., Ramsey, MN 55303
Opening day: November 17, 2023 (through December 10)
Hours: Fri-Sun, 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 select dates), both a communal bonfire and your own private campfire, Christmas sausage, hot cocoa and cider.
Our Farm Christmas Trees
4271 201th Avenue NW, Oak Grove MN 55303
Opening day: November 18, 2023
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 12-7pm & Fri-Sun, 9am-7pm (cut-your-own option closes at dusk)
Distance from Cities: Approximately 35 minutes
Details: This is a family-owned tree farm. Choose from cut your own or pre-cut Christmas trees. 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 lights display.
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 40 minutes
Details: 280 acres of cut-your-own Christmas trees along the beautiful Rum River. Tree species include balsam, Scotch pine, white pine, spruce (Colorado, Black Hills & White), fraser fir and Norway pine.
Best days to visit: Choose the weekend after Thanksgiving or the first weekend of December for FREE hayrides, pony rides, a petting farm, visits with Santa, coloring books and candy canes for kids and a waffle food truck.
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.
Jan’s Cut Your Own Christmas Trees
12519 37th Street SE, Clear Lake, MN 55319
Opening day: Open daily November 18-Christmas Eve, exception of Thanksgiving Day
Hours: 9am-5pm
Distance from Cities: Approximately one 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 for horse-drawn wagon rides, a straw pile play area and blacksmith demos. Food available for purchase includes kettle corn, roasted nuts, smores, hot dogs and brats to roast on the bonfire.
Road trip worthy: Cornerstone Pines
19180 281st Avenue, Grey Eagle, MN 56336
Opening day: November 18, 2023
Hours: Fri-Sat, 9am-6pm & Sun, 11am-6pm (or by appointment)
Distance from Cities: Approximately 1 hpur 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 photos in Santa’s sleigh, visit the petting zoo and warm up in Mrs Claus’ Cottage. Plus, on select days there are horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledding or tubing (when snow permits) and other special events.
Best Christmas tree farms northeast of the Twin Cities
St. Croix Valley Trees
458 Rice Lake Rd, Somerset, WI 54025
Opening day: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Hours: Weekends, 9am-4pm & Wed-Fri (starting November 26), 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.
Best Christmas tree farms 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 Christmas trees in the cities
Saint Paul & Minneapolis:
Saint Paul Farmers Market
290 5th St E, St Paul MN 55101
Hours: Weekdays, 12-8pm & weekends 9am-7pm
Details: Wolcyn Tree Farms & Nursery will operate the Christmas tree lot at St Paul’s downtown farmers market for its 17th year. Christmas tree options include fragrant balsam fire, fraser fir, Canaan fir, Scotch pine and white pine. The lot at the St Paul Farmer’s Market offers many sizes as well as decorated wreaths, garland roping and spruce tips.
Bachman’s on Lyndale
6010 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55419
Hours: Times vary, please see website
Details: Santa and Albert the Elf are back this year with weekend performances of their latest play, Be Your Best (S)Elf and live reindeer will be onsite three Saturdays – November 19 & 26th and December 3, 2023.
Happy Land Tree Lot
Keg & Case Marketplace, 928 West Seventh St, St Paul MN 55102
Hours: Weekdays, 10am-7pm; Sat, 9am-7pm & Sun, 10am-5pm
Details: Happy Land does have a tree farm an hour and a half north of the Twin 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; Sun 9am-6pm; weekdays noon-8pm.
Hours: Maple Plain – Black Friday & Saturdays 9am-8pm; Sundays 10am-6pm; weekdays 3-8pm
Details: The lots carry a variety of pre-cut Christmas trees, wreaths and pots.
Southwest Metro Christmas Tree Lots:
B&J Evergreen Christmas Tree Lots
Eden Prairie Center, 8251 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie MN 55344
Louisiana Oaks Park, 3500 Louisiana Ave S, St Louis Park MN 55426
Richfield Farmer’s Market, 6335 Portland Ave, Richfield MN 55423
Opening day: November 18, 2023 (check website for 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, garlands, spruce tops and porch and yard decor.
Rum River Tree Farm Metro Tree Lots
Find a list of open tree lots here.
Opening day & hours: Varies by lot.
Details: Print a coupon good for $3 off any tree.
Good Shepherd Christmas Tree Lot
Good Shepherd School, 145 Jersey Ave S, Golden Valley MN 55426
Open: November 24-26 & December 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 equipment and additions, extracurricular materials and more to Good Shepherd School.
Best day to visit: December 2, 2023, 11am-3pm. Includes a Christmas Market, free Santa photos, and holiday refreshments.
Where did my favorite tree farm go?
Blackwoods Farm
Stillwater MN
During the summer of 2022, Blackwoods Tree Farm announced on their Facebook page 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.
I am looking to start a tree farm and looking for any feedback and recommendations. Thank you so much, Appreciated
I can only give you feedback from a visitor standpoint, but what we love in a good Christmas Tree experience is a beautiful landscape, a varied inventory of trees and a Christmas season experience – Santa Claus, sleigh rides, Christmas cookies with hot apple cider, etc. We collect the free ornaments that the farm we visit gives us each year. It is fun to look back and remember each visit. Good luck with starting your own Christmas tree farm. Stop back and give us the details when you are ready for visitors.