The Market at Grelen

Fresh and premade greenery

The horticulture team makes mixed wreaths and planter drop-ins using greenery cut daily from the nursery. Separate North Carolina wreaths and 75-foot garland rolls can be preordered online for pickup only; these are not shipped orders. Sales of the announced wreaths and greens begin on Black Friday, November 27.

Custom decorating orders

Custom work includes centrepieces, garland, stems, swags and porch pots. Arrange the design and collection through the special-order contact before relying on a particular item. Fresh stems can also be purchased for your own arrangements.

Lunch, ice cream and greenhouse seating

The Market shop’s ordinary March–December opening is Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm, while the cafe serves lunch 11am–3:30pm. Both close for January and February. You can browse for a tree or greens before lunch, but allow for the earlier kitchen finish and check holiday exceptions.

The cafe serves seasonal sandwiches, soups, salads and children’s options, with house-made ice cream and Virginia beer, cider and wine. Its published fall menu also offers takeaway soup and salads from the shop cooler, while supplies last. Patio, shade-garden and greenhouse seating provide different places to eat; the winter menu and available seating can change.

• Cafe hours and current menus ↗

A walk on the Grelen trails

More than six miles of walking paths cross nursery fields, meadows and woodland. Grelen’s trails are free during business hours, with the trail kiosk near the living LOVE sign and maps or advice at the Market front desk. This is a separate walk through the nursery landscape; no distance or route difficulty is promised for every visitor.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a leash, with cleanup, on the trails and outdoor grounds; dogs are excluded from inside the Market shop and cafe. If you continue onto the connected Montpelier trails, Orange County residents have free access, while other visitors must buy at least a Montpelier property pass. The free Grelen walk does not waive that separate requirement.

• Grelen trail information and map ↗

Holiday workshops and Santa visits

Regular Santa-visit dates at the Market are still to be announced. Brunch with Santa is separately listed for December 13, 11am–2pm. Confirm the brunch’s booking, price and availability, or the next ordinary Santa announcement, before travelling; these visits are not included with a tree purchase.

Wreath-making workshops require advance registration and have multiple November and December sessions. Confirm the exact session time in your registration before travelling. Weather determines whether the class uses the Greenhouse, Shade Garden or Magnolia Cottage at the Market. Private groups can arrange a separate workshop with Leslie.

The Holiday Marketplace is advertised at the Grelen Depot in Orange, with dates still to be confirmed. It is a different venue from shopping for trees at the Market on Yager Road. Confirm the date, time and location for the particular event you plan to attend.

• Holiday events and workshop registration ↗

Arrange a professional photo session

Professional photo shoots during business hours are free, with advance email notice and front-desk check-in. After-hours shoots require an agreed appointment and cost $50 per hour, billed from the 4pm closing time rather than only the time behind the camera: the operator’s example of a 6:30–7:30pm shoot is charged as three and a half hours.

Weekend after-hours availability is limited by weddings and staffing, with more availability generally on Wednesday and Thursday. A staff member remains and bathrooms stay open until the booked finish. Grelen wedding couples have a separate exception for their engagement shoots; confirm which arrangement applies before booking.

• Photo-session arrangements ↗