Polar Express pulls into Blackberry Farm

The Polar Express train is welcoming all aboard during the first two weekends in December at Blackberry Farm for its annual Yuletide celebration. The holiday spirit comes to life from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 5-13, when the decorated train will run continuously around Lake Gregory.

"There will literally be thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights, from the ticket window at the train depot to the trees along the walkways," said facility supervisor Sandy Smith. "It's a holiday spectacle; a true winter wonderland."

Classic holiday music favorites play in the background throughout the event.

The book "The Polar Express" will be read by story tellers at the school house. Santa Claus will delight young visitors at the Early Streets Museum, which also will feature a pair of holiday toy train displays - one of them a village layout and the other made of Legos.

Also, hot chocolate and cookies will be available for purchase at the Huntoon House.

The Blackberry Farm gift shop will be open during Polar Express. In addition, the gift shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout December, selling an assortment of stocking stuffers with unique holiday gift items, many of them handcrafted.

Admission to Polar Express is $3 for residents and $5 for nonresidents. Blackberry Farm is at 100 S. Barnes Road in Aurora, just south of Galena Boulevard, about one half mile west of Orchard Road. For information, call (630) 892-1550.