All abord the Polar Express, Dudley Farm Hosts Captivating Encounter

NEWBERRY ‒ All aboard the Polar Express! This year the 2021 Polar Express event will be held at Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Rd, Newberry. The event will take place on Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 10 – 11 and 17 – 18, plus bonus shows will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 29 – 30. All shows are continuous from 5:30 – 8 p.m.

Readers of the popular book by Chris Van Allsburg, “The Polar Express,” will likely remember that the writer takes a young boy and the readers on a magical train ride on Christmas Eve to the North Pole. There he receives a special gift from Santa Claus.

This presentation of the magical story is coordinated by Bob Watson and Lynn Reeves and includes real live visits with Santa along with complementary hot cocoa and cookies.

Although there is no cost for the Polar Express experience, there is a state park entrance fee of $5 per car load. Donations are encouraged to help defray costs and support this all-volunteer effort. Dudley Farm will be closed during this event.

For more information about this seasonal experience, call Bob Watson at 352-262-5068 or Lynn Reeves at 386-365-2137.

Visitors unfamiliar with Dudley Farm State Park will find a 325-acre historic park that offers an opportunity to see how Florida family farms evolved from the 1850s until the mid-1940s. Dudley Farm is an authentic working farm. Its buildings have been restored or are currently being restored to their original condition. Dudley Farm State Park is normally open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The farmstead closes at 4 p.m. For more information about this historic state park residents may call 352-472-1142 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/dudley-farm-historic-state-park.

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