U-Cut Christmas Tree Farms in Sebastopol
Take a train ride through the trees at Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol.
It's time to think about getting that must-have of the holiday season—the Christmas tree! For many of us, nothing beats the experience of visiting a Christmas tree farm, searching for the perfect tree, and cutting it down ourselves. It's a wonderful family tradition, a great photo opportunity, and a lot of fun, too! Annual trips to the Christmas tree farm are some of my fondest childhood memories, and now it's a tradition I share with my own family.
Since Marin County no longer has any U-cut Christmas tree farms, families looking for the traditional Christmas tree farm experience can head north to Sonoma County. Many of the area's best family-friendly Christmas tree farms are clustered around Sebastopol and Petaluma.
As we do every year, we've visited several Christmas tree farms in the rolling hills southwest of Sebastopol, including Garlock Tree Farm, Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, Frosty Mountain Tree Farm, Celesta Farms, and Grandma Buddy's Christmas Trees. Christmas tree farming is definitely a family business, with many farms operated by generations or different branches of the same family.
Most farms accept cash, checks, and credit cards for trees and accessories, although some attractions, snack bars, and other activities may be cash-only. It's always a good idea to bring some cash along, just in case!
Garlock Christmas Tree Farm
Garlock Christmas Tree Farm is located at 2275 Bloomfield Road in Sebastopol, on 10 acres of beautiful, tree-covered countryside. This family-owned farm has been growing and selling Christmas trees for over half a century. Wander through the rows of trees in search of the perfect one to cut down and take home! Choose from a variety of Christmas trees, including Douglas firs, white firs, Monterey pines, Scotch pines, sequoias, and pre-cut noble firs.
Saws and carts are available, and for a small additional fee, the farm can shake your tree to remove loose needles and any unwanted little critters, wrap it for easier transport, and even install a tree stand. We've often found our family's Christmas tree at Garlock's!
Like many Christmas tree farms in the area, Garlock's offers complimentary coffee and candy canes, along with free tractor-drawn wagon rides around the farm (weather permitting). Stop by the holiday gift shop to browse a large selection of ornaments, Christmas decorations, gifts, tree accessories, and freshly made wreaths and garlands. The snack bar serves up plenty of tasty treats, including popcorn, apple fritters, breakfast burritos, hot dogs, cookies, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider. There's also a spacious picnic area where families can bring their own lunch and enjoy a picnic surrounded by Christmas trees!
The service at this family-run farm is friendly and we have found ourselves chatting with several generations of the family. If all that isn't enough, there's also a petting zoo and farm animals to visit. Santa himself makes an appearance on weekends from 9 am to 4 pm in his space outside the gift shop.
This year Garlock Tree Farm is open Tuesdays–Fridays from noon to 5 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 5 pm (closed Mondays). For more information, visit their website at garlocktreefarm.com or call (707) 823-4307. There's a printable coupon on the website for $3 off any pre-cut noble or nordmann fir.
Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm
More or less around the corner from Garlock Tree Farm, at 3500 Mariola Road, you'll find Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm. Offering pretty much the same tree selection and services as the Garlock's, Reindeer Ridge has tractor-drawn hay rides, kiddie train rides, and a gift shop and snack bar in a large shed with a cozy wood-burning stove. Santa Claus was on hand to hand out candy canes and chat about Christmas lists with the kids on weekends.
The gift shop offered a wide variety of ornaments, crafts, wreaths, garlands, mistletoe, and Christmas decorations. The snack bar served up popcorn, hot cider, baked goods, and hot dogs and bratwurst from the BBQ grill outside. Free coffee is also available.
Outdoor attractions include hay rides drawn by a vintage tractor, farm animals to visit, and a picnic area with an adjacent kids' playground with swing sets and play equipment. The views from Reindeer Ridge are pretty spectacular, too!
Reindeer Ridge Farm is open weekdays from 11 am to 5 pm and weekends 9 am to 5 pm; closed Wednesdays. Santa visits on weekends from noon to 4 pm. Call (707) 829-1569 for information or visit reindeerridgetrees.com
Frosty Mountain Tree Farm
Frosty Mountain Tree Farm, located at 3600 Mariola Road in Sebastopol, is right next door to Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm. In fact, the two farms are separated by just a fence! You'll often see families walking down the road from one farm to the other, making it easy to explore both Christmas tree farms during your visit.
Frosty Mountain offers a variety of Christmas trees, including choose-and-cut Douglas firs, Monterey pines, and Sequoia redwoods, as well as pre-cut noble firs from Oregon. Once you've found the perfect tree, the farm offers complimentary tree shaking to remove loose needles, netting for easier transport, and drilling for tree stand mounting. Christmas tree stands are also available for purchase.
There's plenty of holiday fun for the whole family at Frosty Mountain Tree Farm! Enjoy free tractor-drawn hayrides, visit the farm animals and petting zoo, or relax in the picnic area. Inside the big red barn, a former apple-packing shed, you'll find Santa's Workshop, a festive gift shop filled with ornaments, wreaths, garlands, and other holiday decorations. Mrs. Claus's Kitchen serves up tasty treats like hot apple cider, popcorn, apple fritters, hot dogs, and cookies. On weekends, Mrs. Claus herself joins the festivities for children's storytime.
Frosty Mountain Tree Farm is open Monday through Friday, noon to 5 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 5 pm. Information: www.frostymountaintreefarm.com or (707) 829-2351.
Celesta Farms
Celesta Farms is a bit off the beaten track, but offers a pure Christmas tree farm experience. This family-run farm has pretty much nothing but acres of Douglas firs, Monterey pines, Monterey cyprus, Scotch pines, and white fir for u-cut. They also offer pre-cut noble and Nordmann fir trees, handmade wreaths, garlands, and mistletoe as well as a variety of tree stands and accessories.
Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, cider, and cookies while you search for your tree. Celesta Farms also welcomes well-behaved pets. (Dog treats are offered!)
Celesta Farms is open Fridays through Sundays through December 21 (or until trees run out) from 9 am to 5 pm. They're located at 3447 Celesta Court, Sebastopol 95472. Information celestafarms.com or (707) 829-9352.
Grandma Buddy's Christmas Trees
Grandma Buddy's Christmas Trees is the northernmost Christmas tree farm in Sebastopol, offering mostly choose-and-cut Douglas firs along with a variety of pre-cut Christmas trees. While smaller than some of the farms to the south, Grandma Buddy's has a magical, old-fashioned charm. A picturesque stream winds through the property, with little wooden bridges, an old whitewashed barn, and a beautiful Victorian farmhouse adding to the festive atmosphere. It's like stepping into an old-fashioned Christmas wonderland!
In the barn, you'll find a variety of different handcrafted wreaths, door swags, garlands, and other Christmas decor, as well as complimentary hot chocolate and candy canes and a glowing wood stove. There's also a neat Christmas Village model railroad layout that the kids loved to watch.
Grandma Buddy's Christmas Trees is located at 8575 Graton Road, just after you turn off from Highway 116. They're open daily through December 23 from 9 am to 5:30 pm. Information: www.grandmastrees.com or (707) 823-4547.
If You Go
From Marin, take 101 North to the Gravenstein Highway (116) exit and head west towards Sebastopol. To get to the farms in southern Sebastopol, turn left onto Bloomfield Road and follow it to where it intersects with Kennedy Road. To reach Reindeer Ridge and Frosty Mountain, head onto Kennedy Road and turn left onto Barnett Valley Road, then left onto Mariola Road. To get to Celesta Farms, keep heading west on Kennedy Road until you get to Celesta Court where you'll turn left. To get to Garlock Tree Farm, continue south on Bloomfield Road.
To reach Grandma Buddy's tree farm continue north on Highway 116 through downtown Sebastopol and follow it out of town. Turn left on Graton Road. Grandma Buddy's will be on your left.
Tips for Visiting a Christmas Tree Farm with Kids
Visiting a U-cut Christmas tree farm is a wonderful family holiday tradition! Here are a few tips to make your outing even more enjoyable:
- Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. Christmas tree farms can be chilly and muddy, especially after rain. Layers and sturdy shoes or boots are a good idea.
- Visit early in the season. You'll usually find the best selection of Christmas trees, and popular farms can get busy on weekends.
- Bring your camera! Christmas tree farms are perfect for family holiday photos, especially with the beautiful trees and festive decorations.
- Check the schedule for special activities. Some farms offer hayrides, train rides, visits with Santa, and other family-friendly attractions, but these may only be available on certain days.
- Bring some cash. While many farms accept credit cards, smaller attractions and snack bars may be cash-only.
- Plan for getting your tree home. Bring straps or rope to secure your Christmas tree to your vehicle, and check whether the farm offers tree shaking, wrapping, or loading assistance.
Most importantly, take your time, enjoy searching for the perfect Christmas tree together, and make some wonderful holiday memories!
Looking for more places to find the perfect Christmas tree? Explore our guide to Christmas Tree Farms & Lots in Marin and Sonoma Counties for even more festive family outings!
