East Texas families kick off holiday season with trips to area tree farms

KILGORE — For as long as she can remember, one East Texas newlywed has spent the Saturday after Thanksgiving picking and buying a Christmas tree.

Kayla Pannell, who married her husband Clint in October, made no exception this year when the couple went to Danville Farms on Saturday and bought, what was for them, the perfect tree.

About 6 feet tall, thin enough to fit in their new home, and well groomed, the tree was exactly what the Pannells wanted, and was, Kayla Pannell said, a very fitting start to many Christmas traditions.

For many East Texans, once the turkey has settled and thanks have been given, the true beginning of the Christmas season is the annual trek to a tree farm to chop down a Christmas tree.

“It’s a tradition for some families,” said James Robinson, who along with his family runs the Danville Farms Christmas Tree Farm. “The children come out and play and they pick their trees.”
 

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