This Year’s White House Christmas Tree Picked From Avery County North Carolina Tree Farm
It’s a tradition that is one of many to usher in the holiday season. And, this year’s White House Christmas tree 2024 will come from a championship honoree farm in…
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 20: First lady Jill Biden and children of military families pose for a picture with the official 2023 White House Christmas Tree at the White House on November 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. Biden was joined by military-connected families to receive the 18 and a half foot Fraser Fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)It's a tradition that is one of many to usher in the holiday season. And, this year's White House Christmas tree 2024 will come from a championship honoree farm in Avery County, North Carolina. Let's learn more about the farm and when the special tree will be headed to the capital.
White House Christmas Tree 2024
According to WSOC TV, the very special selection of the White House Christmas tree 2024 is a 20 foot Fraser fir from Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm, which was recently named the Grand Champion Growers at the National Christmas Tree contest.
However, the tree won't be immediately headed to the capital city. In a few weeks, the official White House Christmas tree 2024 will make its way to Washington, D.C., where it will be placed in the White House Blue Room.
History Of White House Christmas Trees
According to White House History, the first known White House Christmas tree was set up in the second floor Oval Office, which was used as a family parlor back then, 1889. It was during the Benjamin Harrison administration. And, it was adorned with candles for the Harrison grandchildren to enjoy.
And, back then, not every administration set up Christmas trees. Reports say it depended on the family and whether there were young children or grandchildren and whether the family would be in residence during holidays. Furthermore, the first known electric lights used on a tree in the White House were in 1894 during the Cleveland administration.
Mamie Eisenhower is known to have been among the first to place a tree in the Blue Room on a regular basis. And, of course, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy became synonymous with selecting a theme for the Blue Room trees in 1961. The history of traditions in the White House from administration to administration is a fascinating read if you're a history buff!
But, we can't wait to see the official White House Christmas tree 2024 make its way from Avery County this year!
13 Cut Your Own Christmas Tree Farms In North Carolina
Maybe it's the love I have for Christmas Vacation (because that movie would obviously make you romanticize getting a Christmas tree). Or Taylor Swift's Christmas Tree Farm that is stuck in my head as I write this. But something has always seemed so magical to me about driving in the snow to pick out that most perfect of trees. Instead, my holiday tradition, which I still love because well it's tradition, involves a shopping center lot. that doesn't mean I can't dream about what it would be like, eyes frozen shut and all, to cut my own Christmas tree. In hindsight, the fact that I shouldn't be trusted with a saw could be a deterrent. But if you'd like to cut your own Christmas tree in North Carolina there are several options.
These include deep in the mountains, or closer to home near Charlotte. And these are family affairs for sure. Most of the 13 options listed below include Christmas trees (of course). But they also have Santa, hot chocolate, hayrides, shopping, and other activities. So if you think you're going to be driving hours to spend 20 minutes finding a tree only to turn around a go home think again. You could also easily make a weekend out of some of these destinations as well. So maybe it's time to make some new family traditions this year and skip the Walmart trees. Check out 13 places to cut your own Christmas tree here in North Carolina! (Ok a couple are technically South Carolina but we are going with distance from Charlotte!).
Cedar Lake Tree Farm
Location: 5829 NC-27 Iron Station, NC 28080
Distance From Charlotte: 40 minutes
About The Farm: Browse the tree lot or choose and cut trees. Visitors can also enjoy a visit with Santa, firepits, and other activities.
Helms Christmas Tree Farm
Location: 6345 Christmas Tree Lane, Vale, North Carolina 28168
Distance From Charlotte: 1 hr
About The Farm: Helms Christmas Tree Farm is a Choose and cut farm, visitors can use a saw to go cut down their own perfect Christmas tree.
Penland Christmas Tree Farm
Location: 6457 Campbell Road York, South Carolina 29745
Distance From Charlotte: 45 minutes
About The Farm: This choose and cut farm gives you several options for the variety of trees. There is also hayrides, hot chocolate, and roasting of marshmallows!
Pine Top Farm
Location: 830 Majolica Road Salisbury, NC 28147
Distance From Charlotte: 45 minutes
About The Farm: Bring your family to the farm. Pinetop Farm choose and cut offers a special Holiday experience. The also offer Premium Fraser Fir precut trees.
Circle C Tree Farms
Location: 372 Will Cook Rd. Boone, NC 28607
Distance From Charlotte: 2 hrs
About The Farm: Enjoy winter and the mountains while picking your Frasier fir Christmas tree. Make sure to wear hiking boots, and enjoy winter in Boone!
C & J Christmas Trees
Location: 1999 Brookshire Road Boone, NC 28607
Distance From Charlotte: 2 hrs
About The Farm: This faamily owned and operated Christmas Tree Farm is in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains just five minutes from Downtown Boone.
Bear Valley Farm
Location: 231 Bee Tree Rd. Glenville, NC 28736
Distance From Charlotte: 3.25 hrs
About The Farm: Bear Valley Farm is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina. Here, crystal clear springs, crisp mountain air and rich soil help us grow some of the finest Fraser Firs on earth.
Lil’ Grandfather Choose and Cut
Location: 15371 NC Hwy 18 South Laurel Springs, NC 28644
Distance From Charlotte: 1 hr 50 mins
About The Farm: Lil' Grandfather Mountain is a full-service choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm. We offer premium Fraser fir, White Pine, and Blue Spruce Christmas trees. As well as wreaths, roping, baskets, and specialty wreaths. There are also free horse rides, hay rides, hay bale movie theater, heated restroom, Santa Claus and Santa's workshop, handmade local crafts, and concessions.
Sandy Hollar Farms
Location: 63 Sandy Hollar Lane Leicester, NC
Distance From Charlotte: 2 hrs 40 mins
About The Farm: A family farm with Choose & Cut Christmas trees located in Sandy Mush Valley in Leicester, North Carolina. The farms offers choose & cut Christmas trees in a large variety of sizes as well as hayrides, fresh wreaths, and garlands as well our Christmas shop.
Smoky Mountain Christmas Tree Farm
Location: 756 Hemphill Rd. Waynesville 28785
Distance From Charlotte: 2.5 hrs
About The Farm: Hundreds of customers visit the farm every year for Christmas Tree Farm life! They sell Fraser Fir in all sizes, wreaths, garlands, and pre-cut trees for the Christmas Season.
Frosty’s Choose & Cut
Location: 2152 Beaver Creek School Road West Jefferson, NC 28694
Distance From Charlotte: 2 hrs
About The Farm: The name doesn't say it all. This is not just choose and cut trees. You can also visit with Santa, take a souvenir ornament from the trunk of your tree home, build a wreath, and participate in other holiday activities!
Mistletoe Meadows
Location: 270 Mistletoe Meadows Parkway Laurel Springs, NC 28644
Distance From Charlotte: 2 hrs
About The Farm: Make holiday memories in the fresh mountain air and choose and cut your tree right on the Mistletoe Meadows Farm. Enjoy a cup of cocoa at the barn and take a hayride during the special holiday farm weekends.
Panoramic View Tree Farm
Location: 368 Panoramic Ln, Boone, NC 28607
Distance From Charlotte: 2 hrs 10 mins
About The Farm: Choose your perfect tree and wreath while you enjoy petting the cows, hayrides, and children's horse rides.
