Helen Ferley was considering getting an artificial tree this year, but in the end, she and her husband Steve always come back to the Niagara Lions tree sale.

“We went to look at some artificial trees, but a natural tree is lovely and the smell is nice and perfect,” Ferley told The Lake Report. 

Ferley moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2006 and said she has been buying her tree from the Niagara Lions on and off since then.

She didn’t plan to buy a tree this early, but found the perfect one to take home while browsing the sale. 

“I have a whole pile of decorations that I’ve collected over the years,” Ferley said.

“I love to sit under the tree with Christmas music on and a cup of tea by the fire and just enjoy the light from the tree and all the decorations.”

Steve MacSween, who helps facilitate tree sales since they began on Saturday, said they had already sold around 100 trees as of Wednesday afternoon.

“By the first week of December, they’ll be gone,” he said.

To secure your tree at the Cornerstone Community Campus, head over Monday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. or weekends from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

At the St. Davids Lions Club, Dr. Stephanie Hall from the St. Davids Veterinary Clinic picked up her tree for this weekend’s pet photos with Santa Claus photo-op.

“Every year we buy our tree from the Lions Club, right up the hill from the vet clinic,” Hall told The Lake Report. “We set it up and it’s our annual tradition to have a photo with Santa and your pet.”

This Saturday, the vet clinic will have hot chocolate, cider, fresh baked cookies and, of course, Santa for pets and their owners to stop by for a photo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Allen Snider, the Lions Club’s president, urged NOTLers to support their local causes when buying a tree, rather than the big box stores. 

Whatever money they make, “everything goes to the Lions Club,” Snider said. 

Tree sales will continue daily from 10 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. at the St. Davids Lions Club until all trees are sold.