Christmas hasn’t waited for Thanksgiving this year.
When the Kinsey Family Farm first started selling trees Saturday, Nov. 21, Dawn Ziemer, the nursery manager, said a wave of people came to the property.
She said the farm, which is located in Forsyth County though it has a Gainesville address, usually experiences an influx of people the day after Thanksgiving. However, as most have witnessed, 2020 continues to break the norm.
“I think people are wanting to go back to tradition with everything that’s going on in the world right now and celebrate family earlier than usual,” Ziemer said.
Although most of the farm is outside, Ziemer said visitors are still encouraged to practice social distancing and wear masks, but it’s not required.
People have the option of choosing from an array of trees, from small potted “Charlie Brown” trees, to large 12-footers. Ziemer said the farm designs its own Christmas tree stands to hold any size. People can either opt to saw down their own tree or pick from the pre-cut ones.
The Kinsey Family Farm’s staff will help customers load and attach the trees to their vehicles. Ziemer said each cut tree comes with a free ornament that pays homage to Clover, one of the farm’s potbelly pigs. The business has carried on this ornament tradition since 2005.
“We want to get you in the spirit,” Ziemer said. “I love seeing the people here with their families and pets.”
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Christmas tree farms in North Georgia
Bottoms Tree Farm
Bottoms Tree Farm has over 4,000 choose-and-cut Christmas trees as well as fresh-cut Fraser firs from North Carolina in the barn.
When: 3 p.m. to dark, Monday-Thursday; noon to 6 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday; closed Sunday.
Where: 5880 John Burruss Road, Cumming
More info: 770-887-2728, bottomstreefarm.com
COVID-19 precautions: Hand saws and s'mores sticks will be sanitized and numbers on hayrides will be limited. Hand sanitizer stations are available. Cashiers and concession workers have facial coverings, and there is optional touchless checkout. Social distancing is encouraged.
Holly Hill Christmas Tree Farm
At this family-owned Christmas tree farm in Dahlonega, you can cut your own cypress or pine and find fresh-cut Fraser firs. Handmade wreaths are also available.
Where: 276 Woodland Drive, Dahlonega
When: 3 p.m. to dark, Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m. to dark, Saturday; 1 p.m. to dark, Sunday. Closed Monday.
More info: Ruth Cantrell at 706-864-8222, or Dave Horton at 678-897-9009
Kinsey Family Farm
Kinsey Family Farm has over 4,000 trees available to choose from. The farm offers a variety of ways to harvest a Christmas tree including choose and cut your own, pre-cut and living trees in containers. Each tree that people cut by themselves comes with a free ornament designed by the farm. This year’s ornament pays homage to the farm’s potbelly big, Clover. People are welcome to bring their pets on a leash.
When: Noon to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends.
Where: 7170 Jot Em Down Road, Gainesville, Forsyth County
More info: 770-887-6028, kinseyfamilyfarm.com
Forsyth County News contributed to this article.
See original story from Kelsey Podo, Gainesville Times here.
