Santa

Cut-your-own tree farms around Washington, DC

December 3, 2019

Maryland

Gaver Tree Farm: Mt. Airy, MD
November 29 – December 23 from 9 am – 5 pm daily

Cut your own beautifully sheared Christmas trees: Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Blue Spruce and White Pine, or select from fresh-cut trees inside the Farm Market. Farm Market with Wreath Shop and Christmas Cafe, home of our famous apple cider donuts. Saws and hand carts are available for cut your own trees. Free shaking, baling and pin stand drilling. Please remember, ALL fall attractions are closed during the Christmas season. No pets. Cash or Credit accepted.

Closed for the season
Linden Hill Farm: Upper Marlboro, MD
Open Thanksgiving and then Friday, Saturday & Sunday’s only from 8:30am-4:30pm until sold out.

Freshly cut trees include Fraser, Canaan, Douglas Firs, and Scotch Pines. In- field varieties include White Pine, Douglas, Norway & Blue Spruce with limited Canaan and Concolor Firs. A blower, baler, bow saws & assistance with cutting and loading your tree are available free of charge. Don’t miss the Snack Shack featuring Nathan’s hot dogs, warm spiced cider, and hot chocolate. Cash or check only.

Mayne’s Tree Farm: Buckeystown, MD
Open Friday after Thanksgiving – Christmas, daily from 9am – 5pm.

Mayne’s allows you to cut your own trees or choose from a pre-cut selection. Trees are White Pine, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir. Pre-Cut Trees are Fraser & Douglas. Hayrides are available on weekends. No pets allowed.

Naughty Pine Nursery: Dickerson, MD
Saturdays & Sundays through December 22 from 10am – 4pm.

Naughty Pine Nursery grows a large selection of Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce and Norway Spruce Christmas Trees offering Cut-Your-Own Christmas Trees for the holiday season! Cash or check only. Leashed pets welcome, credit cards accepted.

Triadelphia Lake View Farm (TLV): Glenelg, MD
Regular hours start November 29, 2019. Monday – Thursday from 12:00pm – 5:00pm and Friday-Sunday from 9:00am – 5:00pm.

Santa comes and visits the farm Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm, stop in and get your picture taken with him. Don’t forget to look around at the handmade wreaths, crafts, ornaments, and Christmas Tree Stands. Several different varieties of live trees for you to choose from with a large selection of fresh cut Fraser Fir trees that are brought in from the mountains. They offer Douglas Fir, White Pine, Blue Spruce, Cannan Fir, Balsam Fir and Fraser Fir. Tree shaking, baling, drilling and the use of wagons and saws provided at no charge. Cash, check, Visa and MC accepted.

Closed for the season: Otterdale View: Union Bridge, MD
Open November 19 – December 15, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm.

They offer a “choose and cut” Christmas tree operation and offer handmade wreaths, garland, etc. All Christmas trees are $60. After cutting your tree, enjoy complimentary warm apple cider and watch the toy train overhead as it travels around inside the Christmas shop. The shop offers holiday crafts and Christmas decorations. They provide hand saws to cut trees and do not allow chainsaws. Pines, Firs, and Spruces available up to 6″ tall- no large trees available. Pets must be leashed. They accept cash, check and credit cards.

Butler’s Orchard: Germantown, MD
Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am- 6:00pm

No cut your own trees this year but they have pre-cut trees. Douglas, Canaan and Fraser Fir! Priced by height and variety. Military Discount, $5.00 off. Custom Designed Wreaths and Gift Baskets!

Homestead Farm: Poolesville, MD
No trees this year

Virginia

Pre-cut trees available only: Clouse’s Pine Hill Farm: Winchester, VA
Opening November 29, and Closing on December 8, 2019 from 9am – 5pm Thursday-Sunday

Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Scotch Pine, Concolor Fir, Douglas Fir, Canaan Fir and Fraser Fir to choose from. In addition to all of the cut-your-own species above, there will also be a selection of pre-cut trees in Douglas Fir, Canaan Fir, and Concolor Fir to choose from. Clouse’s Pine Hill Farm offers a full range of fresh-cut mixed green Christmas wreaths. They accept cash, check, Visa, & Mastercard.

Closed for the season: Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm: Berryville VA
November 29, 30, Dec 1, 5 – 8, 12 – 15, 19 – 22 from 9am – 4pm.

Santa will make an appearance Saturday December 7 from 10am-2pm & Sunday December 15 from 10am-2pm. There are White Pines, Douglas Fir, Concolor Fir, Canaan Fir, Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, and Blue Ice (Arizona Cypress). If you are looking for a tree in the 9-12 foot range, they will be bringing in a selection of Fraser Firs, Canaan Firs, Concolor Firs, and Douglas Firs ranging up to 12 feet.

Country Loving Christmas Tree Farm: Leesburg, VA
Open 9am – 5pm Saturdays & Sundays between November 30 – December 15and by appointments after that: (703)-398-7018.

White Pines, Scotch Pines, Norway Spruce, Red Cedar in addition to Fresh cut Fraser Firs from the Smokey Mountains. Pets welcome on a leash.

Closed for the season: Day Star Farm: Leesburg, VA
Open December 1 & 2 and December 8 & 9 between 9am-5pm on Saturdays & 12pm – 5pm on Sundays.

A horse farm for over 30 years and a cut-your-own Christmas trees farm in the Winter.

Closed after Dec. 22: Hartland Farm: Markham, VA
Open most days 9am-5pm.

Stocks Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce, White Pine and Serbia Spruce to cut down and has Virginia grown precut Fraser Firs. Saws, tie down assistance, shaking and wrapping of trees included with sleds available to help more your tree. Check out the holiday decorations too, such as handmade wreaths. Caramel apples and hot cider are for sale as well as free hot chocolate on weekends. Santa lands at Hank’s Christmas Trees on Sunday, December 1 from 10am-4pm. No pets please. Credit/debit cards accepted.

Joe’s Trees: Chantilly, VA
Open 7 days a week November 16 – December 16 from 9am-5pm.

Trees available: Fraser, Canaan, Concolor & Korean firs, White pine, Blue and Norway spruce. Tree heights 6’-15’. Call ahead for availability of larger trees. Food & Hayrides (weather permitting) Nov. 29, 30 Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15. Christmas Shop with wreaths, jams, jellies, pickles and other canned goods for the holidays. Christmas decor, ornaments, hand-crafted artisan items, local lamb, beef and bison meats. Cash/Visa/MC/ Discover/Debit cards accepted.

Krop’s Crops: Great Falls, VA
Weekends only, 11am – dark

Cut your own or pick from the pre-cut trees. Noble, Fraser, Douglas, White Pine, Norway Spruce…the list goes on! Santa Claus also visits Krop’s Crops on some December weekends leading up to Christmas Eve (1pm – 4pm). They also sell poinsettias, wreaths, roping, ornaments, lights, tree stands, seasoned firewood and more!

Closed for the season: Snickers Gap: Bluemont, VA
Hours vary, see the daily blog for details.

At the farm they provide a map of the fields, a saw to cut your tree, and a rope to pull your tree back to the sales barn. You can enjoy complimentary hot apple cider before or after venturing into the fields to select your tree. When you bring it back to the barn, they shake every tree clean and bale each one tight on special machines for cleanliness and ease for transportation. They accept cash, checks, all major credit cards and Apple Pay. Pets welcome.

Middleburg Christmas Tree Farm: Round Hill, VA
Already closed for the season!

Weekend Picks: December 2-4

December 2, 2016

December snuck up on me! And for some odd reason, I am on top of the holiday shopping and prepping, for once. Lots of holiday happenings have started in our area. Check out the holiday guide for more details.

Celebrate the season with The Smithsonian Holiday Festival this weekend. They’ve got special events galore to help you get in the holiday spirit, including musical performances, book signings, trunk shows, activities for kids, and more! Participating museums include: National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, Sackler Gallery, National Museum of the American Indian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of African Art, and The Smithsonian Castle. Hours are 10:00am-5:30pm and the Holiday Festival is free.

This weekend Baltimore will be having Dollar or Less Days. Many of your favorite spots will only be $1 for admission. Get there early as lines will be long but they’ll move fast. Check the above link for participating places. See our post on Baltimore for ideas of other places to go. You can also see Christmas Village while you’re there.

csm_key_visual_2016_christmas_village_in_baltimore_d108191905

(Photo: Christmas Village)

Saturday- Tenley WinterFest wraps up today. Check the schedule for fun events like a children’s book sale, tree sales, story time and movie night.

8:30am-9:30am: Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Capoeira provides physical fitness for children, ages 4 and up. It is intended to be a no- to low-contact martial art that helps children with gross motor planning and gross motor skills. Children will also learn maculele (a dance done hitting sticks against your partner’s sticks), samba, capoeira instruments, and Portuguese through this fun, interactive class. Classes are $15 each or $120 for a series of ten classes.
[Read more…]

Your guide to getting outdoors this holiday season in and around Washington, DC

December 1, 2016

holiday-pollinationstation2

(Photo: Seasons Greenings at The U.S. Botanic Gardens)

Get outdoors and enjoy the chill of the air while sipping a good cup of joe and hot cocoa for the Bambino(s). Here are some festive places to visit all while being outside.

Outdoor Ice Rinks:

Canal Park Ice Rink– 202 M Street, SE Washington, DC 20003

Tyson’s Corner Center Ice Rink– 1961 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, VA. 22102

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink– National Mall at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW

Washington Harbour Ice Rink– 3050 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Silver Spring Veteran’s Plaza Ice Rink– 8523 Fenton St., Silver Spring, MD. 20910

Rockville Town Square Ice Rink– 131 Gibbs St., Rockville, MD. 20850

Pentagon Row– 1201 S Joyce St, Arlington, VA 22202

christmas_white_house_11
(Photo: Funzug)

Outdoor Festivities:

National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse– The National Mall
The National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is the beginning of three weeks of celebration in holiday music in the nation’s capital. Musical groups from Washington D.C. and across the country provide holiday entertainment to the countless visitors for a one of a kind holiday experience set against the backdrop of the National Christmas Tree. Dec. 2-Jan.1.

Christmas at Mount Vernon– 3200 Mt Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121
The holidays are full of delight at George Washington’s estate. Join for candlelight tours of the Mansion, a dazzling display of fireworks set to Christmas music (Dec. 16-17), dancing, fire-side caroling, Aladdin the Christmas camel, and so much more! Nov. 25-Jan. 6.

Holidays on the Harbor– 165 Waterfront St. National Harbor, MD. 20745
Each weekend, from Nov. 19 to Dec. 17, National Harbor 12:00pm-2:00pm you can see holiday performances and they show holiday movies on Saturdays at 2:00pm. Be sure and warm up inside the Gaylord Resort and then bundle up to check out ICE!. Get your tickets in advance though.

Holly Trolley Fest at National Capital Trolley Museum– 1313 Bonifant Road Colesville, MD 20905
Celebrate the season with toy trains and Santa aboard the streetcars from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18.

Seasons Greenings at The U.S. Botanic Gardens– 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20001
Season’s Greenings opens on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24- Jan. 2. The best times to visit Season’s Greenings are weekdays early in December or on select Tuesday and Thursday evenings in December when the Conservatory is open until 8 p.m. with live seasonal music. Aside from these extended holiday hours, the Conservatory is open every day of the year, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free of charge.

Festival of Lights at the Mormon Temple– 9900 Stoneybrook Drive Kensington, MD 20895
As one of the D.C. area’s great community traditions, the Festival features free performances nightly in the comfortable, state-of-the-art theater located in the Visitors’ Center while the Temple grounds glow with 650,000 lights. Begins Dec. 1 and lasts through Jan. 1 from 10:00am-10:00pm.

Zoo Lights at The National Zoo– 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights a part of their annual holiday tradition. ZooLights includes live music performances, tasty winter treats, and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. More than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland. New this year will be a dazzling light show set to music, snow-less tubing, trackless train and ride the carousel! Nov. 25-Jan. 1 (exception: Dec. 24 & 25) hours are 5:00pm-9:00pm.

Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens– 1800 Glenallan Ave Wheaton, MD 20902
Step into a magical winter wonderland illuminated with more than one million dazzling colorful lights shaped into hand-crafted, original art forms of flowers, animals and other natural elements. Stroll from garden to garden enjoying twinkling tree forms, fountains, sparkling snowflakes overhead and more. Nov. 25-Jan.1 (closed Dec. 24 & 25) Hours and prices vary by night.

Bulls Run Festival of Lights- 7700 Bull Run Dr Centreville, VA 20121
Experience the Bull Run Festival of Lights, 2.5 miles illuminated by holiday light displays. Drive the festival route from the comfort of your car; turn out your headlights and just follow the magical glow. After viewing the lights, bring your family and friends to the holiday village to enjoy rides, refreshments, and of course, photos with Santa Claus. The festival happens annually at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, Virginia. Nov. 23-Jan.8 hours and prices vary depending on the day

Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens– 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court Vienna, VA 22182
Bring the family to enjoy the magical Winter Walk of lights in Vienna, Virginia. The garden is transformed into a half-mile, animated walk of lights. Revisit perennial favorites such as the Lakeside Lights, the Fountain of Lights, and the Holiday Nature Walk – and look for new displays each year. Put on your walking shoes and bring the family to experience a Northern Virginia festive tradition. Round out your visit by roasting marshmallows, and sipping on hot beverages by the fire. (Available for purchase at Light Refreshments). Nov. 18-Jan. 8 from 5:30pm-10:00pm.

Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park– 301 Watkins Park Drive (Route 193) Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
Bring a little twinkle to your holidays. Don’t miss this spectacular holiday drive-through event featuring more than one million twinkling lights! This year’s Festival features fun new displays. Nov. 25- Jan. 1 from 5-9:30pm. $5 ca/van, free on Christmas.

Winter Lights at Seneca Creek State Park– 11950 Clopper Rd., Gaithersburg, MD.20878
The wondrous display of lights at Seneca Creek State Park will be open nightly Nov. 25 through Dec. 31. (closed on Dec. 25). The 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted setting of Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 365 illuminated displays and 65 animated vignettes that light up the night. Themed areas include Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Victorian Village, the North Pole, and much more.

Weekend Picks

December 11, 2015

Washington Nationals will host Winterfest this weekend at The Convention Center. Test your skills at a variety of baseball attractions and game. Transform yourself into a human snowball in the Steal Home Challenge. Jump into a giant stocking and slide down the “The Slider”. Strike a pose at the life-size snow globe photo station. Take a photo with Santa. Donate a toy to a child in need*. And much, much more! Tickets are; Adults: $30 per ticket, Kids, ages 4-12: $20 per ticket, Kids, ages 3 & under: Free. Open to public 11:30am-4:00pm, other times for season ticket holders.

Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town is still going on at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone. [Read more…]