There’s a charming countryside farm just an hour from Toronto that starred in a popular Netflix Christmas movie, and this holiday season, you can wander through the movie’s same towering evergreens and even take a magical Santa Express ride through an enchanted forest to meet the big man in red himself.
Elliott Tree Farm was featured in the 2025 holiday hit A Merry Little Ex-Mas, transforming into the fictional Knotty Pines Christmas Tree Farm for the film!
Beginning this weekend, visitors can experience a little of that holiday magic themselves as the farm reopens its Christmas experience, turning its sprawling 100-acre property into a festive wonderland straight out of a holiday movie.
The family-run farm dates way back to the late 1800s and is nestled in the picturesque countryside of Hillsburgh, surrounded by rustic, old-fashioned heritage buildings and enchanting Christmas trees.
During the holiday season, you can stroll through the evergreen plantations and browse a historic gift barn while sipping on hot drinks, but one of the biggest highlights is the farm’s enchanting Santa experience.
On weekends, visitors climb aboard the Santa Express for a journey through Santa’s Enchanted Forest, which winds through the farm on the way to a cozy cabin where Santa and Mrs. Claus are waiting with sweet maple lollipops!
Look out for Santa’s Airplane (the vintage 1947 Cessna has supposedly retired from the North Pole) and the Elf Mobile, which Santa’s helpers use to transport toys to his sleigh (don’t forget that your little ones can share their Christmas wish lists!).
And then there are the trees: Wander through the plantation and choose your own tree to cut down or browse the Fieldstone Tree Cellar, stocked with freshly cut Fraser and Balsam firs!
For a little Christmas shopping, step inside the farm’s circa-1850 Heritage Gift Barn, where you’ll find handmade wreaths, festive decor and locally sourced gifts.
Then head to the heated Horse Barn Canteen for chocolatey cocoa, or gather around one of the outdoor bonfires to soak up the cozy countryside atmosphere.
It’s all so very pretty, so pretend like you’re in a Netflix movie and take lots of pics!
Elliott Tree Farm’s Christmas experience runs daily from Nov. 14 to Dec. 23, while the Santa’s Cabin Experience runs on weekends from Nov. 14 to Dec. 13. (The Santa Express ride is weather-dependent).
The farm is gorgeous, but the surrounding Hillsburgh countryside is full of quaint littles villages and cozy cafés, so if you can, turn your visit into a day trip or weekend getaway. Stop by the picturesque Hillsburgh Library on Station Street, which overlooks the historic mill pond, or grab a coffee and homemade treat from Jess for You Café & Baked Goods on Trafalgar Road.
A short drive away, pop into Tin Roof Café for a latte and freshly baked pastries and settle in for a cuppa at the Maddie Hatter Tea Shop & Café. Grab some handmade chocolates and treats from Debora’s Chocolates for the trip home.
And if you’re looking for another storybook Ontario village that brings Christmas magic to life, this enchanting town sits just 90 minutes from Toronto and is filled with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights and old-fashioned holiday charm!