CHOOSE AND CUT — Gray and Melanie Troxler (above photo) and their 5-year-old daughter Peyton, traveled from Concord to select their Christmas trees at Garvey Farms on Laurel Glenn Church Road. The family bought a family tree and a smaller tree for their daughter’s room.

Tree season could bring as many as 10,000 visitors here

As a slight chill filled the air Saturday, families and friends made their way from around the state to select the perfect Christmas tree during Alleghany County’s annual Choose and Cut Day festivities, which were held on Dec. 4.

The entire Choose and Cut season promotion, which began Nov. 19 and will end Dec. 24, was co-sponsored with growers who were members of the chamber, according to Chamber Director Bob Bamberg.

“We couldn’t do it if the growers weren’t doing their part,” he said Monday. “The number of people who come into the tree fields is what it is all about. Increase in the traffic for tree growers is what we strive for.”

David Isner spoke on behalf the Alleghany office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. Isner serves as a Christmas tree agent and interim county director.

“The traffic and attendance has varied from farm-to-farm,” Isner said. Other weekend events included a booksigning by local author Ken Henderson, and the Singing Christmas Tree at the First Baptist Church.

In the photo above left, Author Ken Henderson (left) shows a copy of his book, “Painted Mountain,” to (from left) Shannon and Steve Stolt and Justin Hawkins. Barely visible behind Steve Stolt is his wife, Teresa. Also visible in the background is author Jim Campbell.

The Singing Christmas Tree, pictured at right, an annual Alleghany County musical favorite, was held this past weekend at Sparta First Baptist Church. Many local residents join with the church congregation to make up the tree.

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