by James Rada, Jr.
It has become a Christmas tradition in many families to cut their own Christmas tree to take home and decorate. Southern Pennsylvania has plenty of tree farms that offer a variety of evergreen trees to bring the look and smell of Christmas into your home. Here is a selection of farms that allow you to cut your own tree. Some will even provide you with a saw.
3G’s “Cut Your Own” Tree Farm
1991 George St., Dover • 717-308-1261 • www.3gstreefarm.com
HOURS: Fridays and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays noon to 5 p.m.
FEATURES: Fraser fir, Canaan fir, concolor fir, white pine, and Scotch pine and blue spruce available to cut.
Cornerstone Plantation
4509 Young Road, Glen Rock • 717-235-1885 • www.cptrees.com
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday Thanksgiving to Christmas.
FEATURES: Douglas fir, Canaan fir, white pine, Norway spruce and blue spruce available to cut.
Family Tree Farm
4874 Dairy Road, Red Lion • 717-332-6365 • www.familytreefarm.com
HOURS: Daily noon to 4:30 p.m. (Tree lot is open until 6:30 p.m.)
FEATURES: Douglas fir, Fraser fir, and blue spruce available to cut. Dec. 18 is the last day for choose and cut trees in the field. The tree lot will be open until Dec. 21.
Gettysburg Tree Farm
2501 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg • 717-451-0014 • www.gettysburgtreefarm.com
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily beginning the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve.
FEATURES: Douglas fir, Fraser fir, Normandy fir, Swiss silver fir, concolor fir, white pine, Scotch pine, Serbian spruce, Norway spruce, and blue spruce available to cut.
Haring Tree Farms
1705 Valley Road, Etters • 717-938-6669 • 330 River Drive, York Haven • 717-873-7932 • www.haringtreefarms.com
HOURS: Valley Road: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cut-your-own fields close at 5 p.m. River Drive: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
FEATURES: Douglas fir, Fraser fir, Canaan fir, concolor fir, and blue spruce available to cut.
McCurdy’s Tree Farm
123 Chestnut Grove Road, Dillsburg and 236 Campground Road, Dillsburg • 717-432-4017 • www.mccurdystreefarm.com
HOURS: See website for opening, but farms close at 5 p.m. or dark (whichever is earliest) for cut-your-own trees. Arrive by 4:15 p.m. if you plan to cut your tree.
FEATURES: Douglas fir, Fraser fir, Canaan fir, concolor fir, white pine, Scotch pine, Nordmann fir, and blue spruce available to cut. Chestnut Grove farm also has campfires, petting zoo, refreshments, hay rides, kids’ zone, and more.
McPherson Tree Farm
5941 Mount Pisgah Road, Hallam • 717-324-0512 • www.facebook.com/pg/mcpherson.treefarm
HOURS: Beginning after Thanksgiving. Fridays noon to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FEATURES: Lincoln Douglas firs available. You can tag your tree beginning in October.
Sewell’s Farm
3400 Harney Road, Taneytown • 410-756-4397 • www.sewellsfarm.com
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
FEATURES: Douglas fir, Fraser fir, Canaan fir, Norway spruce, Serbian spruce, white pine, and Concolor fir available to cut.
Showers Tree Farm
465 Clearview Road, Aspers • 717-677-6816 • www.showerstreefarm.com
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily beginning the day after Thanksgiving. Holiday hours end the day before Christmas as noon.
FEATURES: Douglas fir, Fraser fir, Canaan fir, Norway spruce, sheared white pine, and blue spruce available to cut. The farm also has hayrides with Santa, a petting zoo, and picture spots.
Springfield Tree Farm
7022 Susquehanna Trail South, York • 717-428-2244 • www.springfieldtreefarm.net
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays beginning at the end of October.
FEATURES: Douglas fir, Fraser fir, concolor fir, and blue spruce available to cut.