Exploring the best of Toronto and Southern Ontario.

Happy Sunday, all! I hope you’re having a lovely weekend, and that you enjoyed my last post about the Christmas On Ice show at Niagara’s Fallsview Casino. Writing that post got me thinking about the importance of traditions. I always love hearing about the special holiday traditions people share with their own families. Whether it’s going to see a favourite seasonal show, baking up some treasured family cookie recipes, or driving around the neighbourhood to look at lights, there are so many memorable ways to celebrate the season. And if you’re one of the many folks who count visiting a Christmas tree farm among your annual holiday traditions, you’re in luck, because I’ve got a great one to share with you today!

Located in Enniskillen – about 20km northeast of Oshawa – Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm is a family-run tree farm and seasonal holiday market. The farm is owned by husband-and-wife team Dan and Rebecca Hope. They’re college sweethearts who met at the University of Waterloo, and they’d always dreamed of having their own tree farm. After getting married and starting a family, they decided to make their dream a reality: they bought the farm in 2002, planted their first tree in 2010, and opened to the public in 2020. Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm is now a full-fledged operation offering cut-your-own trees, a charming farm store, photos with Santa and more. I’d heard so many good things about Hope’s, so when Tania and I were in the area last December for Pingle’s Christmas Fest, we knew we had to stop by!

Located on the Oak Ridges Moraine – part of Ontario’s Greenbelt – the farm has one of the prettiest views you could imagine. By the time we visited, it was less than a week before Christmas, so most of the trees had already been cut. It didn’t matter much to us, as we have our trusty artificial tree, but that hasn’t stopped us from visiting several tree farms over the years! Whether you leave with a tree or not, it’s just such a fun experience (and I will say: even though Tania and I have gone faux for practicality, my parents still buy a real tree every year, and there’s truly nothing that compares.) Hope’s just opened for the 2023 season yesterday, so if you’re hoping to snag a tree for yourself, you still have time! And there’s lots to choose from: the farm grows Balsam Firs, Fraser Firs and Norway Spruces, ranging in size from 7 feet to over 12 feet. They also sell pre-cut trees.

Of course, I had to stop and say hello to the farm’s resident animals. The goats were so sweet and friendly – and not camera-shy at all!

Hope’s charming holiday market is located in a rustic 19th century barn and sells local food products, beeswax candles, handcrafted ornaments, farmhouse-style decor and more. Bonus: it’s all from local vendors!

There are tons of cute photo ops around the farm, from antique sleighs to signs that look like they’re straight out of the North Pole. Fittingly, the farm offers professional photography sessions on weekdays, so if you’re still looking for that perfect family Christmas card photo, now’s your chance! You can even book a private visit with Santa for your little ones.

Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-8 (the field closes at 5 but the market is open until 8) and Saturdays and Sundays from 9-5. And on select weekends, they’re offering a full festive experience with cozy bonfires, complimentary apple cider, and horse-drawn wagon rides! Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates.

Some of my other favourite Christmas tree farms in Ontario are Elliott Tree Farm in Erin and Hockley Valley Farm in Mono. Know of any others I should add to my list? Let me know in the comments or email me – I’d love to hear your suggestions!