On Saturday, November 26, a week before Julebyen, the Knife River Heritage and Culture Center (KRHCC) hosted its second “Trees. Trains. Traditions.” (TTT) event in conjunction with the North Shore Scenic Railroad’s (NSSR) “Christmas Tree Train.”
The NSSR came up with the idea last year. Families board the train in Duluth and travel by rail to the KRHCC to select their pre-purchased tree at a large tree lot. The trees are then wrapped and placed on a flatcar for the trip back to Duluth. Once there, folks can drive up next to the flatcar and load their tree. Trees, wreaths and greenery are also available to locals.
The KRHCC grasped the potential of the Christmas Tree Train and expanded it to create a festive kick-off to the Holiday season which included live music, hot cocoa, coffee, scones, and soup and sandwiches from Larsmont Trading Post. Trees, wreaths and garland were provided by John and Lynette Hanel of Northern Connections Evergreen Products, Two Harbors.
This year the NSSR expanded its number of tickets available from 60 to 125, which were all sold out by mid-October. Many of this year’s riders commented they had attended the Trees. Trains. Traditions. event last year and didn’t want to miss it this year!
What a special and memorable way to start the Holiday season and in the traditional way with a fresh cut northern Minnesota Christmas tree! Many thanks to “Loving Lake County” for again providing marketing support for a KRHCC event.
