Mendon · Massachusetts
Vandervalk Farm
Choose and cut balsam or Fraser fir with a supplied saw and cart, first come without tagging.
At a glance
Plan your visit.
- Tree season
- Opens November 27, then weekends until sold out
- Find the farm
- 25 Lovell Street, Mendon, MA 01756
- Farm visitor information508-478-9463Shared farm and winery visitor contact.
Hours: 8am–4pm; allow time to finish before dark
Dates & hours ↓
Dates & hours.
Tree season: Opens November 27, then weekends until sold out
| Tree-selling schedule | Hours |
|---|---|
| Friday after Thanksgiving | 8am–4pm |
| Saturdays and Sundays afterward | 8am–4pm until sold out; check before travelling |
Choose your Christmas tree.
Vandervalk’s choose-and-cut fields offer balsam and Fraser fir, mostly 7–9 feet with a few trees around 10 feet. Trees are sold first come, first served, with no tagging, so the tallest choices may go early. The farm supplies a cutting saw, a cart for hauling and twine for securing the tree to your car.
Opening is November 27, 8am–4pm, followed by Saturdays and Sundays with the same hours until sold out. The farm cautions that the season can finish as early as the end of the first weekend. Check its website or Facebook before making a later trip.
Tree species
- Balsam fir
- Fraser fir
The farm visit.
Allow daylight for the fields
The fields do not have lighting. Arrive with enough time to walk the rows, choose a tree and finish cutting before 4pm. Leashed dogs are welcome, with cleanup required.
A separate winery visit
Across the street from the tree fields, the winery is at 18 Lovell Street, with parking next to that entrance. Its published November hours are Friday 2–9pm and Sunday noon–5pm. Picnic tables are first come, first served without reservations, and visitors may bring their own chairs or a blanket. Grazing boxes, small bites and separately scheduled weekend food trucks provide food; outside food and beverages are not allowed.
Friendly leashed dogs are welcome with cleanup required. Children must be supervised, with no running between tables or climbing on rocks, walls or equipment. Use the winery’s current menu and event calendar before adding food or music to a tree trip.
Photography by appointment
Professional sessions at the tree farm require advance arrangement. The tree page allows sessions before November 25, and describes possible winter sessions after Thanksgiving weekend by arrangement. Sessions are normally excluded while the winery is open on Friday 2–9pm and Sunday noon–5pm because parking is limited; separately scheduled events can create additional exclusions.
Blueberry picking in its own season
Pick-your-own blueberries are a separate summer visit, and the operator’s picking page currently says the season is closed. Check for a renewed picking announcement before planning a berry trip. Blueberry picking is not included in a Christmas-tree visit.
Book a separate private farm event
The farm offers indoor and outdoor gathering spaces for up to 50 guests. The climate-controlled indoor room includes round tables, padded chairs, a small preparation area and a restroom. Outdoor picnic-table bookings are semi-private while the farm is open to the public on Fridays and Sundays, or private on Saturdays. These are reserved event spaces with their own fees and access arrangements.
Rental time must include setup and breakdown; overtime costs $200 per hour, rounded up. A date is confirmed only after a signed agreement and a 25% nonrefundable deposit, with the balance due 14 days before the event. Payment may be made by check, Venmo or card, with possible card-processing fees. The published cancellation terms retain the deposit for cancellations at least 30 days ahead and require the full balance for cancellations less than seven days ahead. Ask for the terms applying between those windows before booking.
A refundable $250 security deposit may be required and is returned within seven business days if there is no damage. Guests remove their belongings, decorations and trash; extra cleaning can be charged for excessive mess. Alcohol must be served by approved licensed staff, with no BYOB or self-service and no drinking under age 21. Dogs need prior approval and must stay leashed outdoors; smoking is confined to the parking area.
An outdoor booking has no guaranteed rain location unless arranged in advance; tents need approval. Unsafe weather or ground conditions can change access, while extreme-weather or farm-emergency closure may be rescheduled within 12 months subject to availability. The event terms also allow non-identifying event photographs to be used unless the renter requests otherwise in writing. Contact Mary Anne at vandervalkfarmevents@gmail.com with the date, time and group size.
| Rental period | Indoor room | Private outdoor grounds | Semi-private picnic area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half day, up to 5 hours | $1,000 | $600 | $300 |
| Full day, up to 10 hours | $1,600 | $1,000 | Not offered |
| Evening, 4–10pm | $1,200 | Not offered | Not offered |
Private-event service and food options
Wine and beer service costs $25 per hour per server plus beverages; groups of 40 or more require two servers. An event host is $50 per hour. Linen rental and a firepit with wood and setup are $150 each, while the yard-game package is $100. Grazing food is priced per person and arranged with the event, rather than included with a tree or space rental.
| Food option | Price per person | What is described |
|---|---|---|
| Just the Basics | $5 | Cheese, pepperoni, crackers and fresh fruit |
| Hummus | $7 | House-made hummus, mini pitas, vegetables, pretzels, olives, feta, apricots and almonds |
| Charcuterie | $10 | Local cheese and crackers, salami, fruit, nuts, chocolate, wine jam, honey and a cork cheese knife |
| Dessert charcuterie | $7 | Cannoli dip, cookies, nuts, chocolate and fresh fruit |
| S’mores | $4 | Marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate and cookies for making s’mores |
Other farms to compare.
- Luks Tree FarmAuburn, Massachusetts
Choose and cut a farm-grown tree, with supplied saws and free baling and a fresh basal cut.
- Chandler’s Tree FarmBerlin, Massachusetts
Tag a tree in October, then arrange cutting from Thanksgiving week at this Crosby Road farm.
- Bear’s Christmas Tree FarmBlackstone, Massachusetts
Fir and spruce choices with a Christmas shop, cider and cookies at the Milk Street farm.