As November soon comes to an end, one holiday ends and another holiday begins.
Friday was the first day the Uptown Optimist Tree Lot at the Montana Expopark fairgrounds was open.
On Friday they had more than 1,200 trees ranging from 3 feet to 28 feet tall.
What makes this place unique is the flocked Christmas trees that they offer.
Eric Christian, who is a governor for the Optimists in District 13, explains what flocking is. “What they do is spray it down with water and they use a special like spray gun. The tree is on a turntable and its spinning and then they’ll spray the flocking material and whether you want it light, medium, heavy, extra heavy is how much flock you put on and afterwards you spray it with a light mist water again to set the flock.”
Madelyn and Corbin Ellis, two kids helping their parents pick out their tree, said they are looking for a flocked Christmas tree. Madelyn said, “They look a lot prettier during the winter.”
Christian also said it’s all about seeing the kids’ faces light up: “For us as Optimists, there’s nothing better than having a family come in and seeing their child get their special Christmas tree. Seeing them light up, they know they’re going to go home and decorate it and they’re going to do their family tradition and they know sooner or later there’s probably going to be a present under that tree for them.”
And if you’re thinking of heading to Uptown Optimist Tree Lot, don’t want too long!
It’s best to come out early for the best selections. Christian said they’ve sold out in previous years as early as the 10th of December.
They will be selling Christmas Trees seven days a week from 9 in the morning to either 8 or 9 at night until they sell out.
