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Farms offer trees, more for holidays
Outing can enhance experience
Tree WEB 1
Kelly Kinsey helps move fresh-cut trees at Kinsey Farm. - photo by Autumn Vetter

There’s no shortage of options for Christmas trees in Forsyth County.

Besides numerous tree lots and those sold in large retail outlets, there are also several places for families looking for an outing along with their tree purchase. 

The Bottoms Christmas Tree Farm and Kinsey Family Farm, both in north Forsyth, offer “cut-your-own” trees for families looking to take part in the time-honored activity.

As of earlier this week, the owners of the farms said they had sold about 700 trees this season.

Andy Kinsey, who with brother Kelly owns the Kinsey Family Farm on Jot Em Down Road, said about 100 cut-your-own trees remain. But they have plenty of pre-cut trees, which are shipped in from North Carolina.

“We sell Fraser, Concolor and Douglas firs,” Kinsey said. “All the cut-your-own trees are cypresses.”

Over at the Bottoms Christmas Tree Farm, all the trees are cut-your-own.

Sandra Bottoms, who owns the farm with husband Dennis, said the John Burruss Road location offers Leland, Murray, Carolina Sapphire and Blue Ice cypresses, Virgina and White pines and a few cedar trees.

Bottoms said throughout the season, the farm sees about 1,000 customers.

“About 500 come back year after year, and then we get about 500 new ones each year,” Bottoms said.

Both the Kinseys and Bottoms offer a number of family-friendly activities to go along with the tree-cutting experience.

There are bonfires with marshmallow roasting, hayrides and activities for children.

Bottoms said her family created a special coloring book a few years ago that kids can enjoy while parents work on their trees.

“It tells the Christmas story,” she said. “We also have a station where they can decorate a stocking.”

Nearby Warbington Farms on Crow Road doesn’t offer cut-your-own trees, but does provide a holiday festival-type experience for families.

Owner Paul Warbington said this is the first year the farm, which specializes in strawberry picking in the summer, has featured Christmas trees.

“We have Fraser firs shipped in from North Carolina,” he said. “We’ve sold about 650 of them so far.”

The farm serves up s’mores, popcorn, hot chocolate, hay rides and pony rides.

Santa visits from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Back at the Kinsey and Bottoms farms, visitors will find a variety of other products for sale.

Both offer a wide selection of homemade jams, jellies, candies and breads.

There are also garlands, wreaths and swags made from the fresh evergreen limbs.

Bottoms said the decorative pieces, which she and other staffers make by hand while customers watch, are big sellers.

“This past Saturday, we sold well over 100 wreaths and probably over 100 mailbox swags,” she said. “We had six people making them.”

The farms provide a festive outing for families.

“If anyone needs a Christmas spirit boost, it’s a good place to come,” Andy Kinsey said.

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