Photos: Opening weekend at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market

Families flocked to Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday to shop for Christmas trees

Nov. 28, 2025 1:08 pm

Geoff Sloan of Coggon (right) watches as his son, Tobias Sloan, 7, takes a turn sawing off the remainder of their Christmas tree at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Geoff said this is their first year coming to Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market, but they cut down their own tree every year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Co-owner Mark Banowetz laughs as he helps secure a Christmas tree to the roof of a car at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Mark and his wife, Kathleen Banowetz co-own the Christmas tree farm. Many of the volunteers and employees are friends and family of the Banowetz family. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Co-owner Mark Banowetz cuts the netting on a Christmas tree at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Mark and his wife, Kathleen Banowetz, co-own the Christmas tree farm. Many of the volunteers and employees are friends and family of the Banowetz family. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Employee Morgan Mahlert pushes a tree through a netting machine at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market co-owner Mark Banowetz says they specialize in offering customers a wide variety of taller trees that range from 6 to 14 feet. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Paul Rustebakke, 10, of Cedar Rapids watches his father, Jonathan Rustebakke cut down a Christmas tree at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. The Rustebakke family goes out every year to help their grandmother find a tree. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Jonathan Rustebakke of Cedar Rapids looks over a tree while helping his mother shop for a Christmas tree with his children at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. He says they help his mother shop for a tree every year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Jonathan Rustebakke of Cedar Rapids (left) smiles as his son, Paul Rustebakke, 10, brings over a saw to cut down a Christmas tree for his grandmother at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. The Rustebakke family helps their grandmother pick out a Christmas tree every year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Astrid Rustebakke, 7, of Cedar Rapids reaches up to check out a Christmas tree at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Astrid and her family have been helping their grandmother pick out a Christmas tree for seven years and look forward to the annual tradition. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Paul Rustebakke, 10, of Cedar Rapids laughs as he plays with his sister, Astrid Rustebakke, 7, while looking for a Christmas tree for their grandma at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. The family shops for a Christmas tree every year for their grandmother. He says it is something he looks forward to every year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Catheryn Rustebakke (right) of Cedar Rapids and her son, Jonathan Rustebakke of Cedar Rapids check a tree tag to find the height while shopping for a Christmas tree at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. The family helps Catheryn shop for a Christmas tree every year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Paul Rustebakke, 10, of Cedar Rapids makes a face as he struggles to move the saw back-and-forth through the tree trunk at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. The family shops for a Christmas tree every year for their grandmother. He says it is something he looks forward to every year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Paul Rustebakke, 10, of Cedar Rapids smiles as he helps his father carry the saw while Jonathan Rustebakke (left) drags their freshly-cut Christmas tree at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. The Rustebakke family goes out every year to help their grandmother find a tree. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Employee Morgan Mahlert (left) and volunteer Rod Peyton pull a tree through a netting machine at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market co-owner Mark Banowetz says they specialize in offering customers a wide variety of taller trees that range from 6 to 14 feet. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Employee Morgan Mahler holds a tree steady as it is shaken out at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Mahler’s in-laws own the Christmas tree farm and he has been helping out since 2017. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Volunteer Rod Peyton cuts the netting off the end of a Christmas tree at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market co-owner Mark Banowetz says they specialize in offering customers a wide variety of taller trees that range from 6 to 14 feet. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Astrid Rustebakke, 7, of Cedar Rapids smiles as she looks at a Christmas tree at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Astrid and her family have been helping their grandmother pick out a Christmas tree for seven years and look forward to the yearly tradition. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Geoff Sloan of Coggon carries his freshly cut Christmas tree as he goes to get the loose needles shaken off at Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely on Friday. Geoff said this is their first year coming to Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market, but they cut down their own tree every year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

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