Wondering where to cut your own tree this holiday season? Our guide to New England Christmas tree farms is here to help.
By Montana Rogers
Nov 24 2021
Choose and cut your own Christmas tree this year at one of these New England Christmas Tree Farms.
Photo Credit : ThinkstockIt’s that season again! Finding your Christmas tree can take as much or as little time as you like, from a short stop by the side of the road to, better yet, a daylong family-bonding excursion to one of New England’s hundreds of Christmas tree farms.
Below is a round-up of some favorite Christmas tree farms in each of the New England states. You can find even more by visiting the National Christmas Tree Association website or by checking with the growers in each state: Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
And don’t miss our spotlight article from the November/December 2020 issue of Yankee, “Best 5 Christmas Tree Farms in New England”!
Note: Most farms open for Christmas tree cutting and sales beginning around Thanksgiving, but there are exceptions, so be sure to call or check the website before you go.
A sixth-generation family farm, Allen Hill grows trees including blue spruce and Douglas, Fraser, balsam, and concolor fir on 100-plus acres. Hop aboard the wagon for a ride to the field where you can cut your tree; afterward, browse the craft barn and enjoy hot mulled cider and cookies.
This c. 1868 farm in the Litchfield Hills has over 10 varieties of fir, pine, and spruce on offer; harvest your own or choose from a precut selection. For a little retail therapy, visit the Christmas Barn, which not only has ornaments and gifts but also a restored 1920s theater pipe organ to marvel at.
Sleeping Giant provides a backdrop to the fields at Hamden’s Broken Arrow Nursery, which is well known in New England as a specialist in rare and unusual plants. That carries through to its 25 acres of Christmas trees — which have included Veitch fir and Nikko fir as well as the more common varieties — spread across two locations in Hamden. Cut your own or buy pre-cut, and check out the exotic hand-made wreaths.
A popular stop in October for its “Legends of Fear” haunted attraction, Fairview trades chills for cheer when Christmas is on the horizon. Choose from cut-your-own trees (which staffers will transport from the fields for you) or an array of precut trees. You can also pick up a signature Fairview hand-crafted wreath ranging in diameter from 12 inches to four feet. Peruse the gift shop for tree decorations, and say hi to the farm’s resident goats.
Established in 1955, Hartikka Tree Farms has grown to a full-time operation on two farms. Among the CYO and precut varieties you’ll find here are Fraser, Canaan, and Nordmann firs and Colorado, Oriental, and Meyer spruces. Weekend visitors can warm up with hot chocolate, doughnuts, and even wood-fired pizza.
Nearly 200 acres here are devoted to Christmas trees: blue spruce, Fraser fir, Douglas fir, white pine, and more. Select a precut tree, or cut your own and earn a collectible pewter ornament by Woodbury Pewter. Visit the Barnyard Shops for trimmings and gifts, which might include a bottle from the farm’s own winery.
Precut Fraser firs, Douglas firs, balsam firs, and Canaan firs go on sale just before Thanksgiving. Saws and transport back to the main farm are provided. You can purchase tree care products and removable bags on the premises.
The Steadman family established this farm in New Hartford’s Nepaug River valley in the ’70s, and today they offer a variety of sustainably raised species—cut-your-own and living trees—on their 20-plus-acre property. Precut trees round out the offerings, along with trimmings from the gift shop.
Endless rows of balsam, Fraser, Canaan, and concolor firs punctuate the beautiful surroundings at Maple Lane, a 325-acre farm in southeastern Connecticut. Harvest your favorite and staffers help bring it in; precut trees and wreaths, garland, and kissing balls are also for sale.
What was started as a 4-H project in the 1920s has become a Fairfield County go-to for Tannenbaums. At this family farm that’s been around since the 1700s, you can roam some 200 acres of spruce, fir, and pine to find and cut your own; precut trees are available, as well as wreaths, roping, local crafts, and more.
Part of the larger Castle Hill Farm, Paproski’s invites you to hike through 20 scenic acres of Douglas fir, Norway spruce, and more, and then, after hauling your treasure back to the car, tuck into hot cider and cookies. Wreaths, sprays, and swags are on offer, all handmade by the Paproski family.
Just a short drive from Hartford is this cozy spot for a family outing. The CYO choices are simple (they grow balsam, Canaan, and Fraser) and so are the pleasures: warming up with cocoa; perusing goat’s milk soap, honey, and other local products; and meeting the farm’s “Christmas calf.”
Family owned and operated since 1967, Finestkind has won numerous grand champion honors in the state Christmas tree contest, including in 2019. Precut trees are available daily, or head out into fields of fir on the weekends to select your own. Find handcrafted ornaments and more in the gift shop.
More than a third of this historic 65-acre farm is devoted to Christmas trees, mainly balsam fir, which you can cut yourself or buy precut before heading to the country gift shop for goodies. Other traditional extras have included fresh cider doughnuts, mulled cider, and Santa visits.
Opening the weekend after Thanksgiving, as many Christmas tree farms do, Ledge Hill Farm allows you to choose and cut your own tree or select one of the precut trees for sale at the barn. Also at the barn, you can purchase kissing balls, wreaths, and other holiday paraphernalia.
The maples flow and the evergreens grow at Len and Nancy Price’s 100-acre homestead, which means holiday visitors can load up on maple syrup along with a choose-and-cut fir or spruce. Katahdin sheep and other farm animals join the welcoming committee; an antique post-and-beam barn hosts the gift shop.
Perfect for those who like a rustic, cozy setting, this 10-acre family farm invites cut-your-own enthusiasts to roam its tree fields (balsam fir, concolor fir, blue spruce) and load up on homemade pickles, jams, and jellies in its gift shop. Precut trees, wreaths, and ornaments also on offer.
An original c. 1790 farmhouse and a post-and-beam retail shop lend atmospheric charm to this balsam fir tree farm just outside Portland. Past years have also seen wagon rides and marshmallow roasting add to the merriment.
Instagram inspiration abounds at this beloved 185-acre farm (think: baby-blue vintage Ford farm truck, horse-drawn hayrides), as do beautiful balsam firs, ornaments, gift baskets, wreaths, and homemade doughnuts.
Its greenhouse and nursery make Pleasant View popular with Aroostook County gardeners, but its balsam firs and wreaths bring the Christmas crowds. You can do choose-and-cut or precut; Pleasant View also sells fresh-cut trees at its second location, in Searsmont.
Less than half an hour from Portland, acre upon acre of Fraser and balsam firs await, along with an array of farm-made wreaths and kissing balls. Once you harvest your tree, it can hitch a tractor ride back to the parking lot (precuts available too). And keep your eyes open for weekend visits from Santa.
A bustling nursery, garden center, and Christmas tree farm, Trees to Please specializes in fir trees (choose-and-cut, precut, or live). The retail shop is stocked with everything from decorations to crafts to house-made maple syrup, honey, and jam.
Situated in the rich farmland of the Pioneer Valley, Chestnut Mountain is a family-owned 130-acre farm offering balsam, Fraser, Canaan, and concolor firs along with a shop filled with everything from wreaths to maple syrup. Check for horse-drawn hayrides on the weekends.
Cut your own tree or take home a precut tree from this West Newbury favorite. On the weekends, you can take a short tractor ride and grab a bite to eat at the Snack Shack. Two additional locations, one in New Hampshire and one in Massachusetts, also offer Crane Neck trees.
The fourth generation of Cranstons oversees these 160 rolling acres, 40 of which are devoted to tens of thousands of Christmas trees. Choose and cut or buy one ready to load, check out the farm’s maple products, and enjoy the fun picture ops for kids (think: giant snowmen and candy canes).
With precut options as well as the cut-your-own option, you’re sure to find a great tree for your family here. Enjoy complimentary apple cider while shopping for last-minute gifts at the Christmas Gift Shop. Wreaths and kissing balls are also available and can be custom decorated upon request.
Classic Christmas music in the air lends to the holiday appeal of this small family farm located 30 miles from Boston. For 2020 they will have precut Fraser fir trees up to 16 feet and cut-your-own trees from 8 to 15 feet (but hurry: CYOs go quickly). Wreaths, swags, roping, kissing balls, and ornaments fill out visitors’ wish lists.
A top stop for Springfield families, Paul Bunyan’s opens its fields of mainly Fraser and concolor firs for tagging in September. But if you’re late to the party, don’t worry: There’s a wide selection of precut trees, not to mention a gift barn and greenhouse packed with holiday essentials.
Balsam fir, Fraser fir, concolor fir, and Norway spruce, among others, are available as choose-and-cut trees. Freshly cut Balsam fir and Fraser fir trees from Canada and North Carolina can also be purchased. Some holiday decorations are available.
Pieropan has been producing and selling Christmas trees since 1955, making it one of the state’s oldest Christmas tree farms. The trees are grown without chemicals, and a stump-culture growing process is used (the trees are cut farther from the ground, so that the following year the stump will sprout a new tree, thus eliminating the need of planting seedlings every year).
Soak up the beauty of the Berkshires as you hunt for the perfect tree—precut or waiting to be plucked from the field—at this former dairy farm. New for 2020: a bigger and better farm stand/holiday shop filled with decor and gifts.
Fraser fir, grand fir, blue spruce, Scotch pine, and other varieties are yours to peruse for just the right tree (precut available). Need to deck the halls? Wreaths, kissing balls, and swags are made on-site. And little ones will love the antique sleigh and the miniature train village.
Come spend the day at this vibrant three-century-old New England farm, which transforms into a winter wonderland with cut-your-own and precut Fraser and balsam firs, Santa’s Workshop, gingerbread houses and holiday sweets, trimmings, and gifts.
Located right outside Concord, this small family-operated tree farm has been in business since 1971. Grab a sled and saw, then choose from varieties such as Fraser fir, white spruce, and the hybrid Fralsam fir. Fresh wreaths are also available.
Glove Hollow is one of New England’s larger Christmas tree farms, with some 75,000 trees across 435 acres. Aside from the selection of cut-your-own and precut Frasers and balsams, there’s a gift shop, friendly farm animals, and an observation deck.
Old stone walls and views of the mountains and the Connecticut River Valley make this 150-acre family business a scenic spot for tree shoppers. A specialist in Frasers and balsams, Mountain Star has been an 11-time state champion at the Big E.
Just up the road from Hanover, the Nichols family runs a cut-your-own farm that yielded a Grand Champion fir at the 2019 Big E. Find your own winner in the fields of fir and spruce, or go for a precut. Plus, check out the farm’s line of infused maple syrup.
A favorite of Manchester and Nashua families, Noel’s has an array of precut and freshly cut fir trees, plus handcrafted decorations including wreaths and kissing balls.
A turn-of-the-century 1,400-acre estate in the heart of the White Mountains is also home to one of the state’s most beloved Christmas tree farms. Choose your tree knowing that the purchase will help support the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
SEE MORE:The Rocks Estate Christmas Tree Farm
Founded in the 1960s, Tonry has 100 acres of cut-your-own Christmas trees that in 2019 included concolor, balsam, and Fraser firs and white spruce. Much of the family’s 250-acre farm has been placed in a permanent conservation easement, giving an extra gift to the community.
From the first seedlings planted by Harlie Weir in 1945 has sprung a thriving farm that grows all its own stock from seed and harvests 15,000 to 20,000 trees annually: Fraser, balsam, and the Weirs’ nationally popular hybrid, the Fralsam. CYO, precut, and live trees are available, plus there’s a large gift shop and wreath room.
If you’re looking for something a little different, why not try a Turkish, Veitch, or corkbark fir? More than a dozen types of firs and hybrids can be found here, along with gift ideas in the Elves’ Nook Christmas Barn.
The provider of the Rhode Island State House’s 18-foot Douglas fir in 2018, Bedrock is a family-owned farm that not only serves up prime cut-your-own and precut firs but also fragrant stocking stuffers in the form of their signature fir-needle soaps, candles, scrubs, lotions, and other goodies.
A 20-foot-tall Santa and an antique fire truck are just the beginning of Big John’s appeal. You’ll find 100,000 trees in more than 10 varieties spanning fir, spruce, and pine; choose and cut your favorite or let the friendly staff do the work for you.
For more than half a century, this Farm Coast gem—just a mile from historic Tiverton Four Corners—has been supplying local families with field-fresh trees. Stock up on locally produced honey, eggs, and jam; farm-made wreaths; plus ornaments, candles, and more.
This 130-acre farm has trees aplenty, to be sure (Fraser, balsam, blue spruce, and more), but don’t miss the Christmas gift shop, said to have one of the largest selections of ornaments in Rhode Island.
Operated by the same family since 1905, picturesque Pachet Brook grows seven species of trees, with 20 acres for choose-and-cut and another 10 to 15 acres of larger stock (as in, 25-footers). A gift shop offers crafts, beeswax candles, maple syrup, and more.
It’s easy to see how this historic South County farm perched on the meandering Pawcatuck River got its name. Once you home in on your perfect fir, pine, or spruce, they’ll chop it down for you. Look for farm-made wreaths and garland too.
Newport families don’t have far to go for a picture-perfect Tannenbaum thanks to local treasure Sweet Berry, a PYO farm and farm market/café that celebrated its 40th season in 2020. Choose a tree from the field and let the staff cut, wrap, and tie it to your car.
Although it does a robust mail-order business, this former dairy farm invites cut-your-own devotees with thousands of balsam and Fraser firs. The Bishop family also makes beautiful Christmas wreaths—their handiwork has even graced Okemo Mountain Resort’s landmark clock tower. Precut trees available, too.
A short jaunt from Burlington brings you to a c. 1871 family farm that attracts city dwellers with rural delights such as maple sugaring, PYO berries, a regional farmers’ market, and of course, Christmas trees. Theirs are pesticide-free balsam firs, with additional precut options.
This fourth-generation family business tends to some 120,000 Christmas trees on parcels of land dotted throughout the Northeast Kingdom, with about 8,000 prime Fraser and balsam firs on offer at their choose-and-cut farm in Craftsbury. Got a big ceiling? They specialize in larger trees (eight feet and up).
Less than 15 miles from family-friendly Okemo Mountain Resort, Paxton Greens specializes in Fraser and balsam firs and white pines, which you can cut yourself or have a helpful staffer harvest for you. The Christmas shop sells handmade wreaths, tree stands, and gifts; a wood stove keeps things cozy.
A mere five-minute drive from Bennington’s grand Four Chimneys Inn—which for years has gotten its own Christmas tree here—Pleasant Valley grows 30,000-plus firs, pines, and spruces on 80 acres with views of the Green Mountains. Harvest your own or load up a precut, and don’t miss shopping at the holiday gift barn.
Veteran maple producers whose syrup lends a bit of local flavor to brews from Lawson’s Finest Liquids, the Purinton family changes hats for the holidays and opens their fields of 14,000-plus prime balsams for eager tree hunters. Shop for sweet treats and ornate wreaths too.
What began as a side business to the family dairy farm transitioned into a popular holiday destination where families could hunt up their ideal Fraser or balsam fir, or even take a sleigh ride through the snow. Wreaths, garland, and the farm’s own syrup are also available for purchase.
The Testers credit the 2,000-foot elevation of their Northeast Kingdom farm with helping to create healthy, hardy Fraser and balsam firs, which are available as precut, easy-to-take-home trees or as choose-and-cut options.
Certified-organic evergreens are the star attraction at this idyllic property comprising 138 acres of conserved land just north of Brattleboro. It’s owned by Jack and Karen Manix, who run the nearby organic farm stand and garden center Walker Farm, a destination for green thumbs across Vermont and beyond.
Make like Governor Phil Scott, who visited here in 2019, and harvest your own tree on the Werner family’s farm (precut options available too). Among the other enticements: house-made maple syrup and honey, wreaths and other decorations, and the chance to see their antique model train and meet Twister the Christmas pony.
Did we miss one of your favorite New England Christmas tree farms? Let us know in the comments below!
This post was first published in 2016 and has been updated.
Though originally from south Florida, Montana has a stronger affinity to New England’s quaint towns and extraordinary nature, and has no qualms about referring to New Hampshire as her true home. She is a graduate of Wheaton College (MA), where she studied Literature/Creative Writing and Music. She recently returned to the USA after spending two years teaching in Bulgaria. Montana is very excited to be working as an editorial intern at Yankee Magazine.
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