LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA — The smell of fresh fir is officially back in the Lamorinda air. Honeybear Trees, the long-running family Christmas tree lot across from Acalanes High School, opens for the season today, kicking off what many Lafayette families see as the true start of the holidays.
A Lafayette tradition on Deer Hill Road
Honeybear Trees sits at 3233 Deer Hill Road, at the corner of Deer Hill and Pleasant Hill Road, kitty-corner from Acalanes High School.
The lot is family owned and operated and has been part of Lafayette life for more than 20 years. Tommy Beritzhoff, the owner, was born and raised in Lafayette, and the business is now listed as a local corporation dedicated to Christmas tree sales.
According to Honeybear Trees, the lot is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the season, with rows of trees set up on a wood-chip covered lot that feels more like a small forest than a parking area.
Trees are brought in from small, independent farms in Oregon, with species including Noble fir, Grand fir, Fraser fir and Douglas fir. Sizes typically range from tabletop trees around 3 feet tall up to statement trees well over 10 feet, giving everyone from apartment dwellers to families with vaulted ceilings something to work with.
Fundraisers, plaza trees and community give-backs
Honeybear Trees is more than just a place to grab a tree and go. Over the years, the lot has repeatedly partnered with local school and youth groups, including Acalanes women’s soccer, Magic Soccer, and Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE), donating a portion — often 20 percent — of purchases back to local programs when customers mention the fundraiser.
The Lafayette Chamber has also given Honeybear a public shout-out for donating the large holiday tree that anchors Lafayette Plaza each year, the one that gets lit during the city’s “It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette” celebration downtown.
That means the big tree families pose in front of for holiday photos is often the same type of tree you can bring home from the lot up on Deer Hill Road. For many residents, buying there feels like putting money right back into the community.
Other beloved tree spots in Lamorinda
Of course, Honeybear isn’t the only local tradition. A little farther down the road towards the Lafayette Reservoir, Boy Scout Troop 224 runs its own long-standing Christmas tree lot at 3932 Mt. Diablo Boulevard. The troop has been selling trees since 1958, typically opening the day after Thanksgiving and offering several varieties of Oregon-grown firs. Proceeds fund camps and activities for local scouts.
Orchard Nursery, further east along Mt. Diablo Boulevard, also turns part of its property into a Christmas tree lot and is hosting a “Christmas Tree Lot Grand Opening” event on Saturday, November 22, with complimentary hot apple cider, kids ornament decorating, and even a promised Grinch sighting wandering the trees.
Together, spots like Honeybear, Troop 224’s lot, and Orchard Nursery give Lamorinda families a mix of experiences: fundraising-focused, nursery-centered, and all-about-tradition.
