Holiday exhibit on display through Jan. 12

“A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition” may be seen at the Appleton Museum of Art, with free entry on Dec. 7 during the annual Community Day.


Victoria Billig, the assistant director, talks about a wide variety of Nutcrackers on display in the “A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition” at the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. The large collection of Christmas items and decorations are on display at The Appleton Museum of Art from Nov. 2, 2024 through Jan. 12, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

Home » Arts & Entertainment
Posted November 25, 2024 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, welcomes back one of Ocala’s most beloved holiday displays—and one which is sure to elicit “oohs” and “aahs” from all ages.

On view through Jan. 12, “A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition” features themed trees and more from the extensive collection of Ocala cardiologist Dr. Paul Urban, his wife, Joyce, and their daughters, Katie, Kristie, Kassie and Karlie.

When Joyce Urban was a child in Philadelphia, she would see elaborate decorations at department stores set up along the path she walked as she went to visit Santa Claus.

“This wonder of Christmas has stayed with her through the years. She began publicly displaying her collection in 1989 because she wanted to provide a place for children of all ages to come experience what she did as a child,” noted the press release.

Over the years, her Christmas tour has raised money for many local charities, including Harvest International, Interfaith Emergency Services, the Pilot Club, the Women’s Pregnancy Center and the Counseling Resource Center, where she worked as a counselor. In 2012, she opened Urban Counseling, the release noted.

The exhibit is different each year. This year, visitors can see themed trees, the Dickens Village miniature, an extensive nutcracker collection, handmade Santas from around the world and more.

On the second floor of the museum are trees decorated by community groups and organizations, including Appleton Artspace, Better Together, Bridge to Hope, CAMPUS USA Credit Union, College of Central Florida, East Marion Elementary, Hands Up Communications with LN Signs and Greater Marion County Association of the Deaf, Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, Humane Society of Marion County, North Central Florida Media and Urban Counseling.

On Dec. 7, the museum will host its annual Holiday Community Day, with free admission. During the event, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., visitors can view all of the exhibits, make festive crafts in the Artspace and, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., have a picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus and check out Face Painting by Tonya. The Donut Express and Little Red’s Chicken & BBQ food trucks will be on-site throughout the day.

The Free First Saturday/Holiday Community Day is sponsored by the Urban family, CAMPUS USA Credit Union, Marion Cultural Alliance and National Endowment for the Arts.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and store are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, A campus of the College of Central Florida, the museum is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Parking is free; admission fees apply. Guests may visit the Appleton Store with no admission fee to find unique gifts for all ages.

For more information, call (352) 291-4455 or visit appletonmuseum.org

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