Palos Lions Club Christmas Tree Lot Opens For Season With Sales Going To Local Charities

PALOS, IL — You know the holidays are on the way when the Palos Lions Club sets up its tree lot in the Old National Bank lot at 127th Street and Harlem Avenue in Palos Heights.

The trees are expected to arrive at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, and there’s nothing more thrilling than watching 700 trees come off the truck and the tree lot magically come together.

Affordable and high quality trees will be on sale the afternoon of Nov. 22 through Dec. 15, or until the trees run out. Lot hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Santa will be hanging around the tree lot the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, for photo ops with your tree. Hot coco and sweets will also be available.

According to tree chair, Dennis Hyker, the Palos Lions Club sells the freshest trees around that will fill your home with fragrance and nostalgia for Christmases past. Some trees have been known to last until the Super Bowl if you keep watering them.

There won’t be any Douglas firs this year, because last years weren’t so impressive and lacked staying power, Hyker said, but the Palos Lions will have Fraser fir trees for the first time in three years.

“We haven’t had the Frasers in three years because of the Canadian wildfires and North Carolina floods that destroyed hundreds of thousands of trees, Hyker told Patch. “We will have 120.”

These aren’t your factory-grown, dried out trees that you get at the supermarket or big box stores, either. The Palos Lions locally source trees from a grower about an hour north of Green Bay, Wis. The trees were cut a few weeks ago.

“It’s one guy who owns it harvest their trees for us and five or ten other charities,” Hyker said. “They’re all premium, very high quality trees.”

Trees range in price $40 to $200 for balsam, Fraser and Canaan firs. The Lions will also have some 10- to 12-footers.

“If you have a great room, we have a tree for you,” Hyker said. “Big trees go fast, so come early if you want to get one.”

In addition to trees, the Palos Lions are selling fresh wreaths, and are one of the few venues around the south suburbs that are carrying 36-inch wreaths. All the club’s greenery sells out in a few weeks, and is competitively priced. Wreaths range in price for $35 up to $100.

Volunteers are needed to help unload trees this Saturday, Nov. 22, so if you’re a high school student looking to earn community service hours, email Dennis at Dhyker57@Gmail.com

The Palos Lions have been selling trees for over 60 years. Funds from tree sales go to support local, regional and even global causes and organizations.. All our funds raised from this fun event go to our charitable giving, student scholarships and the support of those in need. Over the years we have supported hundreds of originations like these, including:
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The Women’s Crisis center
The Center of Palos Park
Special Olympics-Illinois
Ukrainian support fund
Together We Cope Food Pantry
Heartland Service Dogs
Christmas Gift food cards
Local first Responders Recognition
Power Girls Softball