Where to pick your own Christmas tree in Toronto and the GTA

by Doug O’Neill

Harvesting your very own Christmas tree with family and friends is one of the best holiday traditions. Here are 10 tree farms in the Greater Toronto Area where customers can select and cut their own tree; some include hayrides, hot cider and other family-friendly entertainment. Insider tip: Trees often appear smaller in the field than in your house. Rule of thumb: Most home ceilings are eight feet in height, so choose your tree accordingly. Many tree farms operate on a cash-only basis. [Photo credit: iStock]

Clembrook Christmas Farm
In addition to stocking hundreds of pine and spruce, tree farmers Jo Anne and Brad Clements also maintain a heated barn-cum-gift-shop stocked full of wreaths, garlands, tree stands, crafts and other holiday gifts. Weather permitting, there are bon fires and wagon rides.

• Season opens mid-November
• Hours: Weekends: noon to 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm
• More information

Rinas Christmas Trees
Harvest your own tree from one of seven fields at the Rinas family-run farm, which is located on a quaint country road outside the little village of Rockton. On weekends, customers can cut their tree of choice and bring it back to the parking lot on the hay wagon. There’s also hot cider in Ruth’s Shelter. (Pre-cut Fraser Firs are available for those who don’t wish to cut their own.)

• Season opens November 25
• Hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm daily
• More information

Mark’s Christmas Trees
Looking for an eco-friendly Christmas tree?  Mark’s Christmas Tree farm, located beside Spencer Creek, has a no-pesticides, no-herbicides policy. Take your pick of Spruce, Balsam Fir, White Pine or the farm’s signature Grandma’s Scotch Pine. Staff will help customers choose trees best-suited for corners and walls. Expect hot apple cider, candy canes and wagon rides on the weekend.  Bonus: this tree farm is located on the same road as African Lion Safari.

• Season opens mid-November
• Hours: sun up to sun down on weekends; weekdays by appointment
• More information

Horton’s Magic Hill Tree Farm
Cut your own Scotch Pine, White Pine, Green Spruce, Balsam Fir or Blue Spruce from the 30,000 trees growing on this scenic 40-hectare century-old farm. There are no pre-cut trees. Family entertainment is plentiful: wagon rides, a sand pit playground and Horton’s very own “munchouse,” where customers can enjoy snacks.  Leashed dogs are welcome. Magic Hill is just one of three tree farms operated by Hortons.

• Tree-selling season starts November 27
• Hours: Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• More information

Niemi Family Farm
The Neimi family grow Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine and Norway Spruce on their tree farm in Mount Albert, where you can select and cut down your own tree. They also sell holiday wreaths, decorative swag and garland. Customers are invited to try their hand at marshmallow-roasting, sit around the bonfire or hop on and joy a hayride through the farm fields.

• Tree-selling season starts early November
• Hours: Monday to Thursday: 10 am to 6 pm, Friday: 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday: 9 am to 7 pm, closed Sunday
• More information

Euro Tree Farms
Choose from thousands of trees on the 35-hectare tree farm in the town of Mono Mills, north of Toronto. Expect lots of regular home-sized White Spruce, White Pine, Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir and Blue Spruce. Euro Tree Farms also sells 12-to-18-foot "Cathedral size" trees. (The owners request you leave the dog at home.)

• Tree-selling season opens late November
• Hours: 9 am to 5 pm (hours can vary during the festive season)
• More information

MacPherson Christmas Tree Farm
In addition to popular Christmas trees such as White Pine and Balsam Fir, MacPhersons also sells Colorado Blue Spruce and a limited number of Scots pine. Fun diversions on weekends include wagon rides, scavenger hunts and hot chocolate. If your group is feeling peckish after cutting down the tree, rock on up to the hot dog cart.

• Tree-selling season starts November 26
• Hours: 9 am until dark (usually 5 pm)
• More information

Blackstock Christmas Tree Farm
Bring your family to chop down your tree (lots of Fir and Spruce) and stay awhile to enjoy the complimentary candy canes, cider and hot chocolate on weekends. There’s also a Christmas-themed shop on site stocked full of holiday decorations and other festive accessories. Staff will bail your tree for free, which makes it easy to transport home in your car.

• Tree-selling season starts late November
• Hours: Monday to Friday: 12 noon to 5 pm, weekends: 9 am until 5 pm, open Christmas Eve: 9 am until 3 pm
• More information

Powell’s Trees
The Powell family has operated the 28-hectare tree farm in Bowmanville, east of Toronto, for 30 years. They plant 3,000 to 5,000 seedlings each spring so there’s no shortage of Balsam, Spruce or Fir to cut down and take home. Pre-cut trees are available, too.

• Tree-selling season starts end of November
• Hours: 8 am to dusk
• More information

Spademan Tree Farm
Spademan tree-growers don’t use pesticides, herbicides or any other chemical. Customers are encouraged to choose and cut their own tree, or choose from a selection of pre-cut Balsam and Fraser Firs. There are complimentary wagon rides, hot chocolate and candy canes on offer, and visitors can shop for crafts, decorative accessories and tree stands in the Christmas Shoppe.

• Tree-selling season from November 25 to December 24
• Hours: 8 am to 5 pm daily, by appointment only prior to November 25
• More information

Evergreen Garden Market
Choose from a variety of Ontario-grown trees at Evergreen Brickworks in the Don Valley. The Brickworks is also an ideal place to do a little gift-shopping (home décor, books, children’s games and toys) and nosh on delicious goodies at the weekend food stands.

• Tree-selling season begins late November
• More information

Jeff the Tree Guy
Make a bee-line to the west side of St. Lawrence Market to choose your Scotch, Balsam Fir, White Pine or Fraser Fir tree, and pick up festive garlands, wreaths and decorative pine cones, as well.

• Tree-selling season begins November 23
• More information

Old Cabbagetown Tree Lot
For decades, the Christmas Tree lot has set up shop in Cabbagetown at the corner of Parliament and Spruce street, beside the No Frills Store. Pre-cut and bailed trees (lots of Fraser Firs and Balsam) in a variety of shapes and sizes.

• Tree-selling season begins early December
• Hours: 9 am to 9 pm (hours may be extended in late December)
• More information

Sheridan Nurseries: Toronto Garden Centre

• Tree-selling season begins early December
• Hours: Monday to Wednesday: 7 am to 6 pm, Thursday to Friday: 7 am to 9 pm, Saturdays: 8 am to 6 pm, Sundays: 8 am to 6 pm
• Where: 2827 Yonge Street
• More information