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Christmas is now barely two weeks away and final preparations are underway at Blue Tassel Farm for the return of a holiday favorite as the 5^th Annual Christmas at the Zoo opens at 5 p.m. Friday.

Farm owner and event organizer, Tim McNamee, his staff and army of elves are hard at work getting the nearly nine-acre property, located at 6855 E. County Road 920 N. in Butlerville, decked out and ready to welcome visitors.

And even the animals are feeling the spirit of the holidays.

Visitors attending this free event can look forward to not only taking in the celebratory sights and sounds of the holiday on the farm, but the event will also feature hayrides, a general store, carolers and even the opportunity to get up close with polar bears at the North Pole.

“We have some new displays,” McNamee says. “We have a new polar bear display up at the North Pole where the kids will get to sit on life-size polar bears and get their pictures taken with Santa.”

The farm has also partnered with area actors from a local theatre company to play the parts of the Grinch, Old Man Winter and Santa Claus, who are very animated and will make the experience more impactful, McNamee says.

There is also an opportunity to take a moment to visit and celebrate a new addition to the farm.

“We have the new prayer chapel we just built and finished this fall,” McNamee says. “So that will be a new attraction for people to see.”

Historically, the event generally has one evening each year where the weather is less than cooperative, McNamee says. So, in an effort to offset the possibility, McNamee says an additional date has been set aside for this year’s event.

From carolers, hayrides and an up-close visit with the resident animals, including twin miniature goats, Bruno and Brodie and their sidekick Eddie, the fainting goat, there’s much to take in and enjoy this year, McNamee says.

Each year, McNamee and his staff try to make the event bigger than the last, he says, and this year is no different. With annual attendance in the hundreds, McNamee is hoping to surpass last year’s numbers that topped out at nearly 400 despite bad weather one night.

There have also been additional invitations sent out to area schools, he adds, which will offer another opportunity for area kiddos to visit.

“We have added two schools to the flyer pass out this year, including Hope Elementary and Rockcreek,” McNamee says. “So, we have eight schools we have invited.”

The hopes are for good weather this year, McNamee says.

Admission to the event is FREE with a request of a free-will donation to help offset the cost of operations on the farm, McNamee says.

In times of stress and strife, people often take refuge in community and faith and this opportunity to celebrate the season is no different. This year, if anything, it is more important than ever before.

“It is something that can bring joy immediately, you don’t have a choice,” McNamee says. “It is hard to come on the property when there is music playing and elves, animals and characters running around. A lot of the parents light up, too; they are going through things. It is what Christmas ought to be. I don’t care who you are. You can be an agnostic, an atheist or whatever you want, but you cannot deny the joy of Christmas.”

For more Zoo News, visit Tim McNamee via social media HERE and follow Blue Tassel Farm on Facebook HERE.

What: Christmas on the Farm at Blue Tassel Farm
Where: Blue Tassel Farm, 6855 E. County Road 920 N., Butlerville
When: 5 to 8 p.m. December 13, 14 and 20, 21
Cost: Free admission. Free-will donations kindly accepted.