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Tickets for Blackberry Farm's Holiday Express go on sale Nov. 12

With a dash of imagination mixed with some holiday spirit, visitors to the Fox Valley Park District's Holiday Express can experience the childhood vibes of hope, anticipation and cheer that only the season can provide.

Back after a one-year absence due to the pandemic, Holiday Express will deliver Christmas spirit by re-creating the atmosphere of a snow globe, complete with a replica steam-engine train that chugs around scenic Lake Gregory. The theme throughout reflects the classic 2004 movie "The Polar Express."

Tickets for the annual Yuletide celebration, staged at historical Blackberry Farm, go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, on the park district website, www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Admission is $8 for all guests, age 1 or older. It includes unlimited rides on the train and hay wagon, which are both ADA-accessible.

Holiday Express rolls into the Fox Valley the first three weekends (Thursday-Sunday) in December, beginning Dec. 2.

A Special Needs Night, a low-sensory environment with quieter music and fewer tickets sold, takes place Friday, Dec. 3.

"The best part about Holiday Express is seeing how much people enjoy it, kids and adults alike," said Becky Harling, facility manager at Blackberry Farm, who noted that tickets do sell quickly. "The spirit of the season is ageless and, no matter how old we are, the child in us remains."

Staff at Blackberry Farm uses the entire month of November to transition the park from autumnal glow to holiday magic. Thousands of glittering lights adorn streetlamps, trees and buildings; lighted candy canes illuminate walking paths; and classic holiday music plays in the background throughout the event.

But the three-quarter-mile adventure aboard the train - en route to the virtual North Pole - is the main attraction, as each rail car is adorned with a swath of holiday garnish and riders are serenaded by festive melodies.

"The train is the centerpiece of the park, and our most popular attraction throughout the year," Harling said. "And when you add a storyline and a little bit of imagination, the 10-minute ride becomes a magical journey to a faraway land."

And, of course, no holiday-themed event feels complete without the presence of Santa, whose helpers have transformed Blackberry Farm's Carriage House into the jolly old elf's personal workshop - the North Pole Oasis - where kids can whisper their lists of treasures they hope to find under the tree.

Visitors to Holiday Express can enjoy:

• Listening to storytellers recite tales of Christmas;

• Searching for strategically placed golden candy canes and, upon completion, entering to win a 2022 family season pass to Blackberry Farm;

• Making crafts in Weaver's Cabin;

• Preparing reindeer food to sprinkle across front lawns on Christmas Eve;

• Getting hands-on at the sensory table in Little Farmer's Junction;

• Exploring the Adventure Playground;

• Shopping holiday ornaments and decorations in the gift shop.

Photo opportunities abound at the 54-acre park, and Holiday Express has not disappointed in its 15 years, for families quickly incorporated a December trip to Blackberry Farm into their annual holiday traditions.

Blackberry Farm at 100 S. Barnes Road in Aurora is a living history museum where pioneer life is re-created through educational demonstrations and hands-on fun. For more information about Holiday Express or Blackberry Farm, visit www.blackberryfarm.info or call (630) 892-1550.

A replica steam-engine train travels around scenic Lake Gregory during Blackberry Farm's Holiday Express in December. Courtesy of Fox Valley Park District
Holiday Express is returning after a one-year absence due to the pandemic, running Thursdays to Sundays, Dec. 2-19. Tickets go on sale online at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12. Courtesy of Fox Valley Park District
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