It's a bitter cold Friday night as Craig Stevens tramps through the snow to Memorial Square to open the Festive Tree Lot.
He plugs in the strings of lights and the nostalgia kicks in, conjuring up childhood memories of family tree shopping at outdoor lots on frigid winter evenings.
Snow-covered Christmas trees lean against the chain link fence, ready to be transported in car trunks or tied on the roof.
The Festive Tree Lot aims to bring back that holiday magic and it's a labour of love for Stevens.
"The idea of that old school tree lot that we all remember set up in a random spot," said Stevens. "With the lights and all the other festive aspects downtown it fits nice and also tying it to a local charity"
This year's recipient is Hospice Simcoe and the goal is to raise $1,000.
The lot opened with 75 trees and 50 wreaths, all fresh from Drysdale's Tree Farm and now mostly gone.
The first weekend business was brisk but there's still a nice selection left for tree-shoppers this weekend.
Customer Wayne Dusome returned Friday night to get a wreath for his wife after they had already bought their Christmas tree last weekend.
"We like to support the community," said Dusome, who grew up in Barrie. "Hospice is a great thing for the community and very helpful so anytime you can give back."
Stevens jokes that the snow on the wreath costs extra and Dusome leaves with his purchase - a gorgeous, fresh wreath.
"Stay warm," he said to Stevens.
The annual Festive Tree Lot tradition began last year with proceeds donated to Barrie Out of the Cold.
The lot was moved off Dunlop Street and over to Memorial Square/Meridian Place this year with the colourful lights of the Rotary Club waterfront displays as a backdrop.
The tree lot is the beginning of something much bigger for Barrie, Stevens says.
"Our future vision is that this would be part of Meridian Place in the format of a Christmas Market," said Stevens. "We know the Distillery District set up where there's other things happening whether it would be carolers, a visit from Santa on the stage, little kiosks selling crafts. That's the vision that this tree lot would fit into which we're really excited about."
Authentic holiday wreaths are $20 and Christmas trees $40.
Included with the purchase of a tree is a gift coupon worth $40 – a thank you from the many great shops, cafés and restaurants located in downtown Barrie.
This is the final weekend for Festive Tree Lot and it's open today noon to 6 and Sunday noon to 4.
