Still searching for a Christmas tree? Check out these 10 places in the Rockford area
ROCKFORD — If you don't want to get stuck with slim pickings and trying to bring a Charlie Brown Christmas tree to life, now is the time to starting tree shopping.
Sure, you can make quick work of the activity by unboxing an artificial tree and all the decorations, or you can make an adventure of it by going to a tree farm and finding just the right tree and have it cut for you or cut it yourself.
No matter if you go the you-cut or pre-cut route, just keep the tree watered and away from heat sources.
Here's where you can find real Christmas trees, garland and wreaths in the area:
Winnebago County
Marshmallow's Christmas Tree Wonderland
Address: 5062 Safford Road, Rockford
Phone: 847-754-5770
Retired Men's Club Christmas Tree Sale
Hours: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays
Address: 1646 N. Alpine Road at the Highcrest Shopping Centre, Rockford
All sales proceeds go toward the YMCA of Rock River Valley's annual campaign.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Address: 6440 Belvidere Road, Roscoe
Phone: 815-623-2730
No longer selling Christmas trees, but wreaths and garland are for sale.
Village Green Home and Garden, Rockford
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday
Address: 6101 E. Riverside Blvd.
Phone: 815-877-9559
Village Green Nursery
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Address: 2640 N. Main St.
Phone: 815-877-7027
Through a partnership with a North Carolina tree farm, Village Green offers fresh, precut Fraser fir trees at both Rockford locations.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Address: 4661 Yale Bridge Road, Rockton
Phone: 815-624-7579
The 300-acre farm offers firs, spruces, pines, a gift shop, food trucks, cafe, horse-drawn wagon rides and visits by Santa Claus.
Stephenson County
Pine Summit Tree Farm
Address: 5957 Charolaise Road, Freeport
Phone: 815-563-4196
Offering live, choose and cut trees and wreaths.
Ogle County
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Address: 200 S. Pearl St., Baileyville
Phone: 815-233-9084You-choose and you-cut varieties: Balsam Fir, Blue Spruce, Canaan Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Address: 2879 S. Daysville Road, Oregon
Phone: 815-732-7332
Offering white pine, spruce and a variety of firs.
Sinnissippi Trees Farm & Forest
Hours: 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 8 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Address: 3122 S. Lowden Road, Oregon
Phone: 708-710-8354
Offering scotch and white pine, Fraser and Douglas firs, wreaths and garland.
Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford-area Christmas tree farms are ready and waiting for you