With dozens of claimants to the title in North America alone — from Nova Scotia to North Carolina — crowning the ultimate “Christmas Tree Capital of the World” is likely to cause some divide. A Pennsylvania community in the backyard of vibrant Pittsburgh has been clinging to the title fiercely for decades – and with its record-breaking 700,000 trees cut during only one year in the 1950s to adorn American houses, it’s hard to dispute the claim. Pennsylvania does not kid around when it comes to Christmas. In fact, one of the Keystone State’s underrated (and aptly-named) small cities, Bethlehem, reinvented itself as America’s ‘Christmas Capital’.
The spruce-lined, pine-filled Indiana County, located 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, started growing Christmas trees as its own farm crop in 1918. That banner year in 1956 led the AP (via Indiana County) to label the town the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World,” and it honors the title to this day. But there’s more to this quaint borough than its tree history, including the James Stewart Museum, celebrating the iconic actor’s life and work in Hollywood and beyond. The center of Indiana even organizes an annual “It’s a Wonderful Life” festival, which highlights a combination of its two greatest exports: the award-winning actor and Christmas cheer.
Pick your own Indiana County Christmas tree
Upon setting foot in Indiana County, you will soon see what the Christmas tree hype is all about. The tree craze of the 1960s, when there were 200 Christmas tree farms in Indiana County, may have waned, but you can still indulge in this seasonal tradition. You can pick a pre-cut tree or even choose your own from about a dozen tree farms still continuing the tradition today, and dotting this charming corner of Western Pennsylvania.
One such place is Mytrysak Family Tree Farm, offering pre-cut and cut-you-own live Christmas trees, including the fragrant Douglas fir and majestic Colorado Blue Spruce. It’s rated 4.5 stars on Google and opens around Thanksgiving. Another locally-owned small farm is Ruffing’s Tree Farm, where you can pick any tree of any size under $40, and you don’t even need to bring your own power tools…