The day after Thanksgiving marks the start of Christmas for many, and for local Christmas tree farms, this time of year is about a lot more than chopping down a tree.

Three Dimensional Life, a residential program for troubled teen boys, offers what they call the Christmas Experience.

Visitors can choose and cut a Leyland cypress or get a pre-cut Frasier fir, but they also can enjoy a petting zoo complete with pony rides, s'more roasting, hot chocolate and a meeting with Santa.

The tree farm is open 4-7 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. It's located at 4141 Old Cornelia Highway in Gainesville.