It may be warm outside, the fields may be green and Christmas might feel far away—but at Elliott Tree Farm, the holiday season is already growing.
While families enjoy summer vacations, backyard barbecues and days at the lake, Christmas tree farmers across Ontario are working among the rows. Trees are being cared for, shaped and monitored so they will be ready to become part of your family’s celebrations in November and December.
Christmas in July is the perfect reminder that meaningful holiday traditions do not begin when the decorations come out. They are planted years earlier, nurtured through every season and made possible by the farmers who care for the trees all year long.
Save the Dates for Christmas 2026
Set your holiday plans now and join us at Elliott Tree Farm from November 14 through December 23, 2026.
Located just north of Hillsburgh in the Town of Erin, approximately one hour from Toronto, Elliott Tree Farm is a circa-1850 family Christmas tree and maple syrup farm that has been creating authentic traditions and warm family memories since 1983.
When the Christmas season arrives, the farm transforms into a countryside holiday destination filled with:
- Cut-your-own Christmas tree plantations
- Fresh-cut Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir trees in the Fieldstone Christmas Tree Cellar
- The Heritage Barn Gift Shop
- The Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario
- Cozy outdoor bonfires
- Food and warm drinks in the Horse Barn Canteen
- Farm trails and vintage holiday photo settings
- Santa’s Cabin and seasonal family activities
There is no entrance or parking fee, no reservation is required for the traditional Christmas Tree Experience and dogs are welcome on a leash. Specific Santa appearances, activities and 2026 schedules will be announced closer to the season.
What Is Your Christmas Tree Doing in July?
The Christmas tree that may eventually stand in your living room is not waiting idly for December.
During summer, young evergreens are putting on fresh growth and strengthening the branches that will one day hold your lights and ornaments. Farmers spend the warmer months mowing between rows, managing vegetation, checking trees for pests or disease and shaping each tree as its new growth begins to mature.
Most Christmas tree shearing takes place between June and August. Carefully shaping the trees encourages the full, balanced appearance families look for while still allowing each variety to retain its natural character. Growers also inspect their plantations throughout the summer so potential concerns can be identified long before harvest season.
A Christmas tree takes years of work and patience. Every summer brings another season of growth, another round of care and another step toward becoming the centrepiece of someone’s holiday celebration.
That is why choosing a farm-grown Christmas tree is about more than bringing home a beautiful evergreen. You are supporting Canadian agriculture, rural employment and farming families who plan many seasons—and often many years—ahead.
Canadian Christmas Trees by the Numbers
Canada has a proud and important Christmas tree farming industry.
The latest comprehensive Census of Agriculture counted 1,364 Canadian farms growing Christmas trees for sale across 50,803 acres. Ontario reported 418 Christmas tree farms, more than any other province. Canadian producers also exported more than 2.4 million fresh Christmas trees in 2021, with the majority travelling to homes in the United States.
Canadian Christmas tree farming supports growers, seasonal farm workers, transportation providers, equipment suppliers and local retailers. The Canadian Christmas Trees Association also notes that an acre of growing Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for approximately 18 people.
Elliott Tree Farm is proud to be an active member of Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario, alongside its memberships and partnerships with Ontario Wood, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association and the Greenbelt.
Growing Christmas Traditions Sustainably
Sustainability at Elliott Tree Farm is not limited to a single season or initiative. It is part of the daily responsibility of caring for a working farm.
Christmas tree fields are living landscapes. While the trees grow, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, produce oxygen and provide shelter and habitat within the rural ecosystem. Once a tree is harvested, its place in the field is prepared for future plantings.
At Elliott Tree Farm, three new Christmas trees are planted for every tree harvested. Each new planting represents a future holiday season and ensures families can continue the tradition of choosing a real, locally grown Christmas tree for generations to come.
The sustainability story can continue after Christmas, too. Real trees can be chipped into mulch, used in municipal greening programs or repurposed through wildlife and habitat initiatives rather than being sent to a landfill. Many Ontario municipalities provide seasonal tree collection or recycling programs.
You Do Not Have to Wait Until Christmas to Visit
Christmas might still be months away, but Elliott Tree Farm is open throughout the summer and fall for its Weekend Maple Syrup Farm Experience & Tasting.
Offered every Saturday and Sunday through November 8, the guided experience brings one of Canada’s most iconic traditions to life beyond the spring maple harvest.
Your visit begins with a tasting flight of Elliott Tree Farm’s Golden, Amber and Dark maple syrups, along with a pure maple sugar leaf. Guests then board the Maple Trolley for a ride through the Christmas tree plantations before entering the maple forest.
During the guided sugarbush walk, you will visit the Gathering of the Giants—home to towering sugar maple trees estimated to be more than 200 years old—and continue to the Sugar Shack to learn how sap becomes pure Canadian maple syrup.
After returning to the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario, guests can enjoy Elliott Tree Farm’s signature waffle and ice cream sandwich drizzled with award-winning maple syrup, followed by hot maple taffy poured over ice. Everyone who completes the experience also receives an official Maple Expert Certificate to take home.
Elliott Tree Farm’s Golden Harvest maple syrup was named one of the Top 20 Maple Syrups in the World by TasteAtlas in 2025, making the tasting experience an opportunity to sample internationally recognized maple syrup where it is produced.
Walk Through a Real Holiday Movie Location
There is another reason Elliott Tree Farm might look familiar.
The farm was featured as a Christmas tree farm location in the 2025 Netflix holiday film A Merry Little Ex-Mas, starring Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson and Jameela Jamil. Visitors can walk through the same evergreen fields, heritage farm settings and countryside scenery seen on screen.
The farm has also welcomed productions connected to Murdoch Mysteries, TVO Kids’ Gabby’s Farm, Amazon Prime, Universal Television, YouTube Originals and national campaigns for brands including Canada Post, Walmart and Roots. Its Christmas tree fields, maple forest, historic buildings and open countryside allow the property to transform for film, television, photography and commercial productions throughout all four seasons.
When you visit Elliott Tree Farm, you are not walking through a recreated movie set. You are experiencing the authentic Ontario farm landscape that inspired filmmakers to choose it.
Turn Your Visit Into a Headwaters Day Trip
Whether you are visiting for a summer maple experience or planning your Christmas outing, there are many ways to explore more of the surrounding Headwaters region.
Pair your farm visit with a stop at one or two of these local destinations:
GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co.
Enjoy a locally crafted beer in a relaxed farm setting surrounded by the countryside. GoodLot is a popular addition to a couples’ outing or leisurely afternoon in the region.
Heartwood Farm & Cidery
Continue your farm-to-glass adventure with locally produced cider and a visit rooted in sustainable agriculture and rural Ontario hospitality.
Hereward Farms
Explore a local lavender farm and boutique featuring lavender-inspired products, gifts and seasonal experiences. Field access is seasonal and may require advance tickets.
Alton Mill Arts Centre
Discover galleries, artist studios, heritage architecture and changing exhibitions inside a beautifully restored stone mill in nearby Alton.
Fergus and Elora
Extend your drive north to explore historic streets, local shops, restaurants, trails and the dramatic natural scenery surrounding the Elora Gorge.
These stops have previously been featured in Elliott Tree Farm’s regional day-trip guides. Hours and seasonal availability vary, so always check directly with each destination before travelling.
Begin Your Christmas Tradition This Summer
The countdown to Christmas does not have to begin in December.
It can begin on a warm summer walk through the sugarbush, with your first taste of pure maple taffy or while looking across rows of young Christmas trees and imagining how much they will grow before becoming part of a family’s holiday.
Visit Elliott Tree Farm this summer for the Maple Syrup Farm Experience & Tasting, explore the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario and make a day of discovering the Hills of Headwaters.
Then set your calendar to return when the farm transforms for Christmas from November 14 through December 23, 2026.
The lights, bonfires and Christmas magic may still be a few months away—but your holiday tradition is already growing.
Book your Maple Syrup Farm Experience & Tasting online and follow Elliott Tree Farm for Christmas 2026 announcements, Santa schedules and seasonal updates.
