A time-honored tradition
Cut down your own at these suburban Christmas tree farms
In response to the pandemic, some new safety features are in place this year at Christmas tree farms.
Masks will be required in sales barns and when unable to remain 6 feet apart fromother families. Hand sanitizer will be plentiful. Visits with Santa may not happen, or will look much different. You might not get that free apple cider doughnut or complimentary cup of hot cocoa this year.
But the pandemic can’t stop Christmas. And what’s the centerpiece of the season? The beautiful tree.
“Talking to the people who do pumpkin and apple stuff, we’ve learned that people are looking to do things outside with their families,” Ben’s Christmas Tree Farm owner Chris Czarnowski said.“We think there will be people. Besides our trees, we have a nature trail and a deciduous forest, sowe have 90 acres of land. If peoplewant to spread out, there’s plenty of room.”
With that, here’s a list of area tree farms to help you get started this season. As things change rapidly, call or check the farm’s website or social media before you go.
Aurora
Abbey Tree Farm: Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday Nov. 21-Dec. 23. 2855Hart Road. You-cut trees cost $55-$68; pre-cut fir trees cost $10.50$15 per foot. 630-966-7775; wintercheer.org.
New this year, guests must go online and make a reservation to cut down a tree or pick up a pre-cut one. If you choose to cut your own, you have an hour to hunt for and select a tree (it’s not a problem if you need more time). If you forget a saw, borrow one for $10 (refundable upon return). There is free shaking and baling. There will be socially-distant visits with Santa Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20; reservations must be made online and cost $19.99 per person (that pays for a hot chocolate, 6 doughnuts and a gift from Santa). Wreaths, swag and garland will be for sale. The Farmstead Emporium will be open. The Pine Tree Cafe will be open onweekends. Tree and wreath delivery and curbside pickup is available this season.
Cary
Pine-Apple Farm: Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 27 and Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 20. 309 Three Oaks Road. Trees cost $70 for pines; $90 for spruces and firs. Pre-cut Fraser firs are priced as marked. 847-639-3248; pine-apple farm.com.
Hand saws are provided; no gas chainsaws allowed. Shaking and baling provided. Cash, check and credit cards accepted (with small processing fee).
Harvard
Ben’s Christmas Tree Farm: Open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 27 to Dec. 13. 7719 Ryan Road. Most pines cost $7 per foot, most firs and spruces cost $11 per foot. 630279-0216; benstreefarm.com.
This tree farm has nine varieties of spruces, firs and pines ranging from6-12 feet tall. They provide guests with hand saws and offer free shaking and baling. There will be no wagon rides this year. An outdoor payment window will be available in addition to the normal cashier station inside the red barn. Credit card processing surcharges will be waived for this season. There will be a food truck onsite too this year.
Horse and wagon rides won’t be running this year, but they have figured out away to have Santa on hand, he said. Santa will sit inside a barn to maintain social distancing while kids will stay outside.
Lake Villa
Gengel Tree Farm: Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 21-22, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 27-29 and weekends and 12-4 p.m. Dec. 4, Dec. 11, Dec. 18 to Dec. 20. 38614N. Fairfield. Scotch and White pines are available for you-cut for $60 any size. 847-356-5661; facebook.com/GengelTreeFarm.
They sell pre-cut Balsam, Fraser, Concolor and Canaan firs aswell as Balsam wreaths, swags, arches and kissing balls.
Sullivan Family Christmas Tree Farm: Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 27 and weekends through Christmas. 24774W. Petite Lake Road. You-cut trees cost
$50. Cash and check only. 847-9893092; facebook.com and search Sullivan Family Christmas Tree Farm.
In response to COVID-19, the indoor
gift barn and concession stand will not be open this year. Hayrides are limited to one family or group of people that come together. They will not sell precut fir trees, wreaths or roping this year.
Lily Lake
Lee’sTrees: Open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 22 andNov. 27 and weekends to Dec. 20 or until sold out. 45W002 Lees Road. Average cost of you-cut trees is $75. 630365-2116; www.leestreesusa.com.
Available for you-cut are Scotch pine, White pine, Canaan fir, Fraser fir, Balsam fir and Serbian andNorway spruce ranging from 4 to 9 feet. Pre-cut trees are grown and harvested at their Wisconsin farms and include Balsam fir ($65-$70), Fraser fir ($95-$120) and White pine ($60$65). Use of saws is provided; shaking and baling is free.
Peotone
Bengtson’s ChristmasTrees: Open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 27 and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to Dec. 20. 10919W. Wilmington Road. You-cut trees cost $89 plus $3 to shake and $3 to wrap. 877-640-2911; treefarm usa.com.
They offer Canaan and Douglas firs; White, BlackHill and Colorado spruce; and White and Scotch pines for you-cut. Free use of sawwith refundable deposit.
Plainfield
AndersonTree Farm: Open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 22-Dec. 24. 508W. Route 126. Cost is $9 per foot. Pre-cut Fraser firs cost $65$100. 815-436-2140; visitanderson treefarm.com.
Varieties for you-cut include Colorado spruce, White pine, Douglas fir, Balsam fir andNorway spruce. Shaking and wrapping are provided. Wreaths for sale.
Sandwich
Larson’s Family Farm: Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 27; after that 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends through Dec. 19. ClosedMondays. 4404 Somonauk Road. All trees cost $45. Cash or check only. 815-7862249; larsonfamilyfarm.com.
This family farm has about 18 acres of you-cut trees; including Canaan and Concolor fir, Blue andNorway spruce, Scotch and White pine in all different sizes. The use of saws and shaking and baling is provided. In response to COVID-19, the heated part of the barn store will be closed this year.
Spring Grove
RichardsonTree Farm: Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. dailyNov. 27 to Dec. 13. 9407 Richardson Road. Youcut trees cost $79 plus tax; select trees in the field available for $29; pre-cut trees up to 12 feet priced per foot. 815-675-9729; richardsonadventurefarm.com.
They have more than 50,000 trees of many varieties and sizes spread over 75 acres; including Scotch and White pine, Norway spruce, Fraser fir, Concolor fir and Canaan firs. Fraser and Canaan firs are in short supply this year. Saws and shaking and baling are included. They also sell fresh wreaths and garland. They accept cash, check or credit cards.
Wilmington
TammenTree Berry Farm: Open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily beginningNov. 27. 37131 Essex Road. Cost is $60 per tree; shaking and baling cost $7. 815-458-6264; facebook.com/Tammen TreeberryFarm.
This farm has Douglas fir up to about 12 feet tall and Canaan fir and Fraser fir up to about 8 feet tall, aswell as White and Scotch pine. Closing date is tentative.
Woodstock
Grandpa’s ChristmasTree Farm: Open 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 5-6. 13616 Illinois 176. Trees cost $65. 815-337-2682; grandpastreefarm.com.
This farm has several trees that are 5-6 feet tall. Hayrides will not be offered this year but they will still pick up your tree and bring it back for you. They provide the saw, twine, shaking and baling. Cash, check or credit card accepted.
Oney’sTree Farm andNursery: Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily for you-cutNov. 27-Dec. 6. 16608U.S. 14. Trees 5-9 feet cost $75; trees under 5 feet cost $50. Evergreens over 9 feet cost $10 per foot. 815338-4108; oneystreefarm.com.
They have contactless tree pickup fromthe fields after you cut your tree. Varieties include Fraser and Concolor firs; Austrian, Scotch and White pine; and Colorado, Serbian andNorway spruce. Includes shaking and baling. Due toCOVID-19, visits with Mrs. Claus, horse-drawn wagon rides and pony rides are canceled. They will have outside checkouts and outside displays of handmade wreaths, centerpieces and garland.