Best Christmas Tree Lots in the Tri-Cities

We chose this as our No. 1 pick because it offers festivities on Friday. The trees arrived on Saturday to be ready in time for families that like to decorate on Thanksgiving. http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13543893

Beaver Bark was a close second in our office poll. It too, is offering festivities. Bring your kids to see Santa Claus on Friday; here's the schedule: http://www.beaverbark.com/santa.php. They are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

To help needy families, Richland fire fighters are continuing their tradition of selling Christmas trees at the Uptown. Don't look for them this Friday, they haven't started yet, which is why they ranked third on our list. Visit the lot from Dec. 2 through the 12 between noon and 8 p.m.

No festivities, no charity, just regular fresh trees. Still they deliver, which warranted a No. 4 spot on our list. Instead of buying more Christmas decorations while you're there, you can pick up useful stuff. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays. That's a little less than the others so we chose this as our No. 5. Still, they can decorate your home with lights -- something a nursery can't say.