Halloween has come and gone, which means stores are already pulling out holiday decorations and radio stations can begin playing Christmas music. The national forests are celebrating as well with Christmas tree permits now on sale.

Permits are available for $20 per tree at Murdoch’s, Fireside Market and Eatery, the Winter Park Fraser Chamber of Commerce, Granby Ace Hardware and the Sulphur Ranger District Office in Granby. This year, permits can also be purchased online.

Locals and visitors wanting a fresh tree for the holidays can head out to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, where from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Elk Creek cutting area near Winter Park and Fraser will be open Dec. 1-8.

Permits must be purchased before heading out to cut down a tree and online permits must be printed. The Forest Service also recommends checking the weather, wearing layers and bringing all of the tools needed to the site to ensure a good experience.

Handsaws and axes are allowed, but chainsaws are not. Snowmobiles and ATVs are also not allowed in the cutting area.

The Elk Creek cutting area is located off County Road 72, west of Fraser. Visitors will take the left fork in the road and continue to the entrance.

Anther opportunity to get a real Christmas tree includes the Red Feather Lakes cutting area near Fort Collins, which will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Dec. 7-15.