MAKING THE CUT: Local Options for Christmas Tree Cutting

Russ Griswold: “Dad, that thing wouldn’t fit in our yard!”

Clark Griswold: “It’s not going in our yard, Russ. It’s going in our living room.”

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

If you choose to go out and embrace the time-worn family tradition of cutting your own Christmas tree, we sincerely hope it goes better than the Griswold’s frostbite-inducing expedition in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! So to make sure your outing doesn’t end with your car flying through a snowbank, your eyes frozen open from extreme cold, or a very sappy, too-large tree breaking all the windows in your living room, here are some excellent choices for local tree farms that will allow your family to safely cut your own tree. Just don’t forget to bundle up!

1. Sloan’s Christmas Village (Bothwell)
Sloan’s Christmas Village is a 250-acre farm near Bothwell, Ontario a little to the east of Chatham. The farm is owned and operated by the Sloan family, who have maintained the forest and farmed Christmas trees on the surrounding farmland since 1950. Over 4,000 families come each year to cut their own trees. You can also make a day of the trip by taking some time to enjoy more than a dozen activities at Sloan’s, including campfires, a tree maze, a mini train, pony and wagon rides, and cookie decorating, and more.

2. Country Christmas Trees (Dorchester)
Country Christmas Trees is in Dorchester, between London and Ingersoll. The tree farm sells a variety of Christmas trees including spruce, blue spruce, fir, white pine, and Scotch pine, for those with very particular taste in Christmas trees! Country Christmas Trees also sell adorable evergreen gnomes who would love to take up residence on your porch or in your flower bed. If you would rather not head out in the old front wheel drive sleigh like the Griswolds in Christmas Vacation, Country Christmas trees also offers delivery. For those heading to the farm, the site is dog-friendly (leash required) and is a cash only operation.

3. Tree Lane Farms (Ilderton)
Don’t have an appropriate saw to cut down your perfect tree? No worries! Tree Lane Farms in Ilderton will provide one for you! You can of course bring your own saw, so long as it isn’t a chainsaw! Pre-cut Fraser fir, Koreana fir, balsam fir, and Canaan fir are available, as are white spruce in the u-cut section of the farm. U-cut is available until December 19th . The whole family will enjoy taking a wagon ride, warming up next to a campfire, visiting the
alpacas, and spending time at Activity Acres. And just in case you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet, the store might have just what you’re looking for!

If you are looking for a home in or around London, Ontario don’t hesitate to reach out to Daniel Kiekens at dan@dkre.ca. As a licensed real estate professional, Daniel can help you find your perfect home!