Residents and visitors to McMinn County can feel the holiday spirit when they visit the Holly House Christmas Tree Barn in Riceville. The farm opens on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27, 2025) and stays open until the family runs out of inventory. There are multiple family-friendly events that help even the grinchiest relatives feel the holiday spirit.

“This is our holiday tradition,” says Jill Crisp, one of the owners of the Holly House. “We base our Thanksgiving around the Holly House and welcome people to our century-old farm.”

Visiting the Holly House is free, there is ample parking, and dogs are welcome. Learn more about this year’s events and how you can kick off Christmas on the farm. 

McMinn County Families Arrive Thanksgiving Afternoon

The Crisp Family celebrates Thanksgiving with a hearty brunch, and then everyone runs out to prepare for the Holly House event. Doors open at 3:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day, with festive music, bonfires, homemade cookies, and (of course) hot cocoa. McMinn residents can pick out their Christmas trees and enjoy the festivities throughout the evening.

The entire weekend is a holiday celebration at the Holly House. There is a concert on the Friday after Thanksgiving and photos with Santa on the Saturday following. This year, Chris Hennessee will be performing the Friday night concert.    

Crisp says the Holly House stays open as long as there are trees and wreaths for sale. Some years, the farm runs out of inventory on its first weekend and closes for the season in early December. In other years, they can open again on the weekends. Crisp encourages people to visit the Holly House early to enjoy the best selection and ensure they get the trees and other holiday accessories they want. 

The Holly House Creates a Hallmark Moment for Families

The Holly House is free for visitors who want to enjoy live music, meet Santa, and spend time around the fire. Crisp and her family intentionally make any paid activities or food products affordable so families can enjoy the event without stressing about costs.

“Taking your kids places can be expensive,” says Crisp. “We want to create Hallmark memories for families, and that includes the cost.”

Many people have artificial Christmas trees that they use each year, but that doesn’t stop them from visiting the Holly House. Customers often buy wreaths because they love the fresh pine smell in their homes, or pick up a bouquet of live mistletoe to hang up in romantic corners.

One of the favorite options at the Holly House is the wreath barn. Customers start with a plain Fraser fir wreath and can add holly, magnolias, and other foliage to make it a work of art. The homemade cookies are also popular with kids – and the family recipe is a carefully guarded secret.

In 2025, the Holly House will open a new Christmas tree barn, so guests can pick out their trees in a dry shelter from the elements. The event runs rain or shine, with extra cocoa on particularly cool nights.  

The Holly House’s Popularity is Spreading Across the Region

This is the 8th year that the Holly House has opened in Riceville, and the tradition continues to grow as more families discover this fun event. Many McMinn County families plan to visit the Holly House on Thanksgiving or the weekend following, whether they want to enjoy live music or meet Santa.

As the event grows, it has started to attract people from outside the region. People have travelled from Knoxville to Georgia to enjoy the Holly House experience.

Crisp says her farm is popular because they order large trees, some larger than 12 feet. She has a trusted supplier in North Carolina with whom she works closely to provide quality trees for McMinn residents.  

The supply of Christmas trees might look different this year because so many were damaged by Hurricane Helene in 2024. This is another reason to arrive early and find your favorite one. 

Spend Time on the Farm at the Holly House

The Holly House was started by two brothers and their wives to utilize a former dairy farm. This family-owned business has become a holiday tradition that the Crisps get to share with everyone in McMinn County and beyond. Join the tradition this year and mark your calendars for Thanksgiving and the weekends following. Pick out a tree, wreath, or both, and don’t forget the homemade cookies!

Explore other events and activities in McMinn County with the new Discover McMinn calendar. Find seasonal events to make new memories this December and feel the holiday spirit. Tennessee is a great place to celebrate the winter holidays, so don’t miss out on everything happening this month. From Thanksgiving Day events to New Year’s Eve celebrations, Discover McMinn has you covered!