Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1485955
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 6, 2022 UCW 19 ough retailers may begin playing holiday tunes as soon as anksgiving is over, for many people, no date on the calendar marks the beginning of the holi- day season better than the day they pick up their Christmas tree. ere are many different ways to acquire a Christmas tree. Some people prefer artificial Christmas trees that can be stored and taken out each year. Others make a yearly expedition to a tree lot or a Christmas tree farm to find the perfect fir or spruce. Historians believe a man named W.V. McGallard planted 25,000 Norway spruce seed- lings at his Mercer County, New Jersey farm in 1901, essentially establishing the first commercial Christmas tree farm. By 1908, customers could visit the farm and choose trees for $1 each. McGallard helped create an entirely new industry that now accounts for 350 million trees be- ing grown and sold in the United States every year. Selecting a Christmas tree may not take more than an hour or two, but there are ways for fami- lies and other tree shoppers to maximize their time spent look- ing for a tree. Bring refreshments. Couple Christmas tree shopping with picnicking if the weather is ame- nable. Pack some foldable chairs into the vehicle (sitting on the ground on a blanket may be too cold) and bring along thermoses of coffee or hot cocoa. Snacks like granola bars, Christmas cookies or other filling treats can keep everyone satisfied and energized while they shop for a tree. Pair tree shopping with a trip to see lighting displays. Find the tree lot or tree farm and then scope out potentially scenic spots to view holiday lighting displays nearby. Up & Coming Weekly is a good resource to learn about light displays in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Read about the Cape Fear Botanical Garden light display on page 12 of this issue. For decorating ideas, take A Christmas Tour of Homes present- ed by Heritage Square Histori- cal Society on Dec. 4. One of the stops is the MacPherson House Bed & Breakfast. Read more about it on page 13 of this issue. Plan a night out. Everyone may be tired and hungry after a long day of Christmas tree hunt- ing. Plus, it's typically a good idea to wait some time for boughs to open before decorating. Use this opportunity to dine out and return home ready to decorate. Make it a regular occurrence that Christmas tree shopping is followed by a family meal at a favorite restaurant. Watch a classic film. Many dif- ferent holiday movies are broad- cast this time of year and each enhances the Christmas spirit. ere are also countless mov- ies available through streaming services. While putting up the tree, play a favorite film in the background. What better way to enjoy decorating your own tree than by watching Charlie Brown adorn his meager evergreen at the same time? Make a day of selecting and putting up the Christmas tree each year. Doing so can enhance the holidays and make for an entertaining way to spend time together as a couple or family. Craft an entire day around tree shopping a STAFF REPORT COVER Photo of one of the many trees displayed in the MacPherson House Bed & Breakfast in Fayetteville by Isaiah Jones. YOUR LOCAL Beer-Seltzer-Ciders-Wine Distributor Malt 15% ALC 3.50 $ shot 15% ALC YOUR LOCAL Beer-Seltzer-Ciders-Wine Distributor 355ml Bottle 10 pack 50ml Bottle 50ml Bottle Malt NOW AVAILABLE in most Convenience Stores