Chamber promotion aimed at enticing late-fall visitors to county

By Lynn Hotaling

A national advertising campaign aimed at attracting late-fall tourists to the county to choose and cut their Christmas trees at mountain tree farms is paying off, said Julie Spiro, director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Travel & Tourism Authority.

"We had one call from Atlanta from someone looking for 500 trees," Spiro said. "We gave him a list of local growers."

Now entering its fourth season, "O! Christmas Tree" is a cooperative effort between the chamber, local choose-and-cut Christmas tree farmers, inns, restaurants and retailers. The campaign is aimed at providing families an opportunity to select a yule tree while spending a weekend or a few days in Jackson County.

"It's a choose-and-cut Christmas tree discount package, complete with lodging, dining and retail options," said Spiro. "'O! Christmas Tree' is a great way to create a new holiday tradition and experience the flavor of Christmas in the mountains."

The promotion moves into high gear Nov. 27, just in time for Thanksgiving, Spiro said, and will be in full swing during both weekends of the annual Dillsboro Luminaire (Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14).

"For a lot of people, (cutting a tree) provides their first taste of Christmas," said Spiro. "We've found 'O! Christmas Tree' to be a family-friendly activity that has grown in popularity each year."

Advertisements will appear in widely circulated newspapers including The Wall Street Journal and USA Today as well as Southern Living and other national magazines, Spiro said.

Brochures listing participating growers, accommodations, restaurants and retailers are available at the Chamber of Commerce office on Main Street in Sylva. The information is also posted online at www.mountainlovers.com.

For more information, call the chamber at 586-2155.

Back to Archive: 11/14/02.