Rush for Christmas trees has begun in New England with Thanksgiving over

BROCKTON, Mass. — The rush for holiday trees is on. Some Christmas tree farms announced they were already out of trees before December 1. Some are requiring reservations to help keep people spaced out during the pandemic.

“I think I’m going to do more this year than ever before,” said Kathy Beary of North Easton.

Beary was at Packard Farm Garden Center looking for a hanging “kissing ball.” She told us she put up her Christmas tree the day before Thanksgiving. She doesn’t appear to be alone.

Packard Farm Manager Linda Casey said the trees are flying out of there. Packard Farm ordered 1,625 trees this year. Casey said about half of them are already gone.

“We were loading the trees into the greenhouse and people were literally saying, ‘hey, can we buy a tree?’” Casey said.

Related: Christmas trees and decorations selling out earlier than usual

“We got people coming in looking for the small tree because it’s just what they need,” said Adam Blanchette, who also works at Packard Farm. “And people looking for that big gigantic tree because they want their neighbors and family to look at it and say, ‘wow, that’s one heck of a Christmas tree.’”

The National Christmas Tree Association, the group that represents the country’s Christmas tree growers, said they are expecting a 10-20% increase in live tree sales because the pandemic has people staying at home.

The group also said there are plenty of trees to go around this year, so don’t worry about the country selling out. However, they warn some locations will of course sell out.

Kathy Beary said she found what she was looking for and admits this pandemic has changed her take on Christmas.

“I always said it was nuts when people would rush to get their trees up the day after Thanksgiving, I don’t think it is nuts anymore,” she said.

Cox Media Group