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NY grown, themed holiday tree on display at the Adirondacks Welcome Center

Posted: 12/16/2020

QUEENSBURY, NY — The Adirondacks Welcome Center officially unveiled its 2020 New York State Grown & Certified Holiday Tree adorned with New York agricultural-themed ornaments.  The tree will be on display outside the main entrance of the Welcome Center throughout December to celebrate the holiday season, welcoming visitors who are traveling north on I-87 and reminding them of the region’s rich and diverse agricultural industry.  The unveiling was done virtually via Facebook live.

There are more than 750 farms in Upstate New York that grow over 300,000 Christmas trees. New York ranks sixth in the U.S. for the number of acres dedicated to growing Christmas trees.

The 6 foot tall fraser-balsam hybrid was grown and harvested from Bailey Family Christmas Trees in Cambridge in southern Washington County. Bailey Family Christmas Trees is a member of the Grown & Certified program, which highlights New York's agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental sustainability standards. This second generation farm is owned by Bruce Bailey and his wife LeeAnn Paquette along with Bruce's parents, Allen and Judy Bailey. Allen and Judy planted 1,000 seedlings in 1967 and sold their first trees in 1974. The tree farm was recently featured by blogger Ree Drummond in The Pioneer Woman as one of the best tree farms in America and also featured by Briana and Tom Lyons of Glens Falls Living as one of the best Christmas tree farms to visit in the region this season. Learn more at baileytrees.com 

Amongst the gingham ribbon and white lights on the tree, visitors can find brown eggs, hops, wheat, foxtail grasses, blueberries and lavender – all products grown in the region.  You will also find ringlets of white sheep’s fleece from Foster Sheep Farm in Schuylerville, NY clustered on branches to look like snow. The tree is fittingly topped with a galvanized milk can, representing the area’s thriving dairy industry. The topper is adorned with three stately reindeer representing “safe travels” to visitors passing through the Welcome Center.

To complete the tree, NYS Grown & Certified embossed tree biscuits (ornaments made from the cross section of tree branches) are scattered about. Visit the Taste NY Facebook page to vote for your favorite tree topper in the annual statewide Welcome Center tree topper competition!

Inside the Adirondacks Welcome Center, visitors can check the ladder display that features approximately 80 Taste NY vendors whose products are for sale in the nine state-of-the-art vending machines in the market. The vending market is open 24/7 giving visitors to Adirondacks Welcome Center the experience of purchasing locally made snacks, beverages and gifts from New York small businesses at any hour. Visitors will find products like pure maple candies, fresh eggnog, and handmade chocolates as well as a variety of soups, spices, and sauces. Taste NY is the state’s official eat-local, drink-local program that helps create new marketing and promotion opportunities through events, retail locations like the Welcome Center, and partnerships like that with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County. Taste NY at the Adirondacks Welcome Center is proudly operated by the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce (LGRCC). Our knowledgeable staff are available at the Welcome Center from 9am-5pm, 7 days a week, year round to provide information about the local producers in the market, agritourism destinations, and other regional points of interest. The Welcome Center is located on I-87 between Exits 17 &18 for those traveling north. For information, contact (518) 487-0045.

About the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB:

Founded in 1952, the LGRCC is a member-driven, not-for-profit 501 C (6) corporation. The Chamber comprises more than 400 members in various sectors of the business community. With a regional mindset, membership spans six counties in New York. LGRCC operates Taste NY at the Adirondacks Welcome Center, Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail and the Village of Lake George Visitor Center. The Lake George Regional CVB is a division of the LGRCC. In addition, LGRCC sponsors numerous special events throughout the year including Lake George Region Restaurant Weeks.

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