OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) – Many are ready for a relaxing holiday weekend, but the Christmas tree industry is ready to kick off their busiest time of year.
“The weekend after Thanksgiving and the following weekend are really the busiest tree selecting and cutting weekends.”
Dave VanderVelden of Whispering Pines Tree Farm in Oconto says they have been preparing for this weekend for a couple of months.
“We spent time getting everything ready to go”
The experience is much more then just selecting a tree and cutting it down. Vandervelden says they offer food, warm beverages and even some fun for the kids.
“We have wagon rides but they are in the form of Thomas the Tank Engine characters. We even have talking reindeer.”
On those cold days, consession stands and free hot chocolate are available for all. VanderVelden says that adds to the experience.
The weather should be perfect for many families to choose their perfect Christmas tree, but even when it is cold, if they grow it, people will come.
“Unless it is like ten below zero and the winds blowing, people do comes. They come with their umbrellas and rains suits.”
As far as finding the perfect tree, VanderVelden says that is not something they can do.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The perfect tree for me, will not be the perfect tree for the next person.”
He says however, they have enough variety to chose from, so that everyone leaves happy.
VanderVelden said in the past, the tree cutting season would still be at peak two weeks after Christmas, but more and more people like to get their tree earlier.
That means taking proper care of your tree is vital to having it survive Christmas.
VanderVelden recommends making an additional cut at the trunk of the tree before watering it, and said you want to keep it watered, because once it dries up, it will not drink again.
Starting on Friday, Whispering Pines Tree Farm is open daily from 9-4 with all kinds of events planned for the weekends leading up to Christmas.
A retail lot is also available at 1950 Dickenson Road in De Pere. The retail lot is open starting Friday from 9:00am to 8:00pm.
