A Holiday Pilgrimage to Richardson Christmas Tree Farm: Where Tradition Takes Root in the Illinois Countryside
As the holiday season settles across northern Illinois, there’s one essential accessory to pack before heading into the countryside: your best Clark Griswold ensemble. At Richardson Christmas Tree Farm in Spring Grove, the annual ritual of finding the perfect family Christmas tree feels both timeless and refreshingly new. It’s an outing built on fresh air, open space, and a sense of holiday nostalgia that’s increasingly rare.
Set on 75 sprawling acres with more than 50,000 trees—from Canaan and Fraser fir to white pine, concolor, Douglas fir, and the occasional blue spruce—the farm encourages visitors to wander the fields, size up the horizon, and choose the evergreen that feels just right. Beginning Nov. 28 and running daily through Dec. 21, the adventure unfolds from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., complete with cut-your-own options, pre-cut selections, wagon rides, cider sipping, gift shopping, and the kind of festive bustle that defines small-town holiday tradition.
A heated sales barn anchors the property, offering indoor restrooms and staff ready to help with everything from saws to suggestions. Once a tree is chosen, the team shakes out loose needles, bales it in netting, and preps it for the journey home. The entire process has the smooth choreography of a farm that takes seasonal joy seriously.
This year brings notable additions, including a new heated annex attached to the gift shop. With ample seating, it has quickly become a cozy gathering spot for visitors craving warmth—and treats. Draft and craft beer, hot cocoa, apple cider (spiked or not), and fresh hot donuts make it easy to linger. A case of gelato offers nine flavors—from salted caramel to mango sorbetto to birthday cake—and feels like a whimsical twist on traditional winter indulgence.
Inside the gift shop, Christmas flourishes in every direction. Hand-crafted ornaments, glassware, mittens, wreaths of every shape and size, garland, floral arrangements, and fresh evergreen décor showcase the farm’s impressive craftsmanship. Most of the wreaths, garland, bows, and decorations are made right on-site—an increasingly rare claim among holiday markets.
Weekends bring food trucks and seasonal specials like apple cider mimosas on Black Friday, drawing steady crowds. Outside, wagon rides carry families deep into the fields, while campfire rings and photo stations give the farm an almost storybook feel.
“This year’s tree crop is excellent,” said co-owner George Richardson, who runs the farm with a multi-generational team of family members. “It’s the whole experience—being outside, breathing fresh air, walking among thousands of trees—and finding that perfect one.”
Cut-your-own trees are $95 plus tax and reach up to about 10 feet, while pre-cuts stretch to roughly 12 feet. Borrowed saws, helpful staff, and thoughtful touches—like free hot chocolate or coffee after tagging your tree—make the day feel both festive and effortless.
Richardson Christmas Tree Farm also serves as one of only 11 official Trees for Troops locations in the United States. For $75, visitors can purchase a tree that the Richardson family will deliver to Naval Station Great Lakes in early December, adding a meaningful layer to the holiday season.
With its mix of rural charm, family-friendly amenities, and deep-rooted tradition, Richardson Christmas Tree Farm continues to draw visitors from across Illinois and beyond. It’s not just a place to buy a tree—it’s a place to make a memory.
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