As Thanksgiving approaches, Alaska families are once again being invited to take part in one of the state’s favorite holiday traditions — heading into the woods to cut their own Christmas tree.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has announced that free Christmas tree cutting will be open from Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, through Christmas Day, Dec. 25, giving Kenai Peninsula residents the chance to harvest a tree straight from the forest.

Households may cut one tree up to 20 feet tall for personal use, using only hand tools. Trees must be taken at least 150 feet away from roads, lakes, streams, trails, campgrounds and picnic areas. Cutting is not allowed near the Refuge Headquarters, Visitor Center, or along Ski Hill Road.

“It’s something we do every year, and a lot of folks are

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