BETHLEHEM, N.H. (Nov. 21, 2020) — The Forest Society’s The Rocks' Christmas Tree Farm will still be welcoming families and visitors this holiday for cut-your-own trees starting November 21st, but to keep customers and staff as safe as possible will require advance reservations.

For many, it’s hard not to think about the upcoming holidays and how things may be different this year. Some folks are holding the holidays early so they can be outside with family. Others are making their traditional holiday recipes and shipping them off to family to enjoy together over a Zoom meal. Even in the midst of a pandemic, families and friends are finding ways to share the joy of the season, even if it looks and feels a bit out of the ordinary.

The Forest Society’s The Rocks’ Christmas Tree Farm is no different.

“There’s no better place to get into the holiday spirit than on Christmas Lane, home of the Forest Society’s The Rocks’ Christmas Tree Farm,” said Jack Savage, president of the Forest Society.

“We felt it was extremely important to allow visitors to The Rocks this holiday and we wanted to do it in the safest way possible. We are fortunate the experience is outdoors, but we recognize that we need to #RecreateResponsibly, as we have encouraged visitors to our reservations for hiking this past summer and fall. In order to do that, we are requiring advance registration for visitors to The Rocks this holiday season.”

The Rocks is a very popular destination and for many families it is a part of their holiday tradition. To make it safe for everyone, The Rocks is requiring reservations to reduce crowds and encourages everyone to wear masks when 6-ft of social distancing is not achievable. Visitors can go to https://forestsociety.org/the-rocks/farm/harvest to reserve a time to wander the 40-acres of perfectly shaped fir trees, fresh-cut trees, and the gift shop for handmade wreaths and maple syrup made right at The Rocks.

“The Rocks has been growing Christmas trees for over 35 years, each one of our 40,000 trees have been hand-pruned this summer, with thousands ready for harvesting,” said Nigel Manley, longtime manager of The Rocks. “We know the holiday is about family, friends, and our community and we wanted to provide a safe experience for the generations of families that make The Rocks a part of their holiday traditions each year. So, while we are requiring reservations to visit The Rocks this holiday, we will still be here with our holiday cheer and courteous service to make your family tradition as special as ever.”

The Rocks opens for Christmas trees November 21st through December 20th, open daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. (closed November 22nd and Thanksgiving Day, November 26th). The Rocks is operating during the weekends with sales at the main buildings on Glessner Road in Bethlehem. Weekday sales will be at 686 Main Street (Route 302), right on the highway across from the Adair Inn in Bethlehem. Reservations to visit The Rocks and cut your own tree, purchase fresh cut trees, and wreaths can be made by visiting https://forestsociety.org/the-rocks/farm/harvest. 

The Rocks’ shopper-friendly online store will offer holiday wreaths and The Rocks’ own maple syrup. All items include free shipping, and customers may create a holiday wish list and ship to multiple addresses with one order. Mail order shopping is open through Dec. 15. The Rocks has been featured on WMUR, New Hampshire Chronicle, Good Morning America, and in Yankee Magazine.

The Rocks is the North Country Conservation and Education Center of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (www.forestsociety.org). The Forest Society is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1901 to protect the state’s most important landscapes and promote wise use of its natural resources. The landmark 1,400-acre property includes numerous buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers Agri- and Eco-tourism opportunities throughout the year. For more information please visit http://www.therocks.org. For reservations and other inquiries, e-mail info@therocks.org or call 603-444-6228.