CF Appleton Museum of Art Celebrates the Holidays with Annual Exhibition, Community Day

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, welcomes back one of Ocala’s most beloved holiday displays. On view Nov. 2-Jan. 12, “A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition” features themed trees and much more from the collection of Ocala cardiologist Dr. Paul Urban, his wife, Joyce, and daughters, Katie, Kristie, Kassie and Karlie.

Joyce Urban’s love of Christmas began when she was a child in the city of Philadelphia. Every year she would go see the elaborate decorations at the department stores set up along the path she walked as she went to see Santa. 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. Over the years, her Christmas Tour has raised money for many local charities including Harvest International, Interfaith, Pilot Club, Women’s Pregnancy Center and the Counseling Resource Center where she worked as a counselor. In 2012, Joyce opened Urban Counseling where she continues her legacy of helping others.

The Urban family is honored to loan a portion of their Christmas collection to the Appleton during the holiday season. Visitors can look forward to beautifully themed trees, the popular Dickens Village miniature, an extensive nutcracker collection, handmade Santas from around the world and much more. The display is different every year!

Adorning the second floor of the museum are trees decorated by community groups and organizations. Participants include 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 (GMCAD), Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, Humane Society of Marion County, North Central Florida Media and Urban Counseling.

Visit the museum on the December 7 Free First Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., for the annual Holiday Community Day. Enjoy free admission all day to see “A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition,” as well as other holiday displays and special exhibitions. Make festive crafts in the Artspace, and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., have your picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy Face Painting by Tonya. All activities are free. The Donut Express and Little Red’s Chicken & BBQ food trucks will be on-site throughout the day. This 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.

If you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift, an Appleton Museum of Art membership truly is the gift that gives all year. A variety of membership levels are offered to fit the needs of every individual, couple or family. Visit AppletonMuseum.org for membership details. We also invite you to visit the Appleton Store any time with no admission fee to find unique gifts for all ages including artist-made jewelry, art books and activities for adults and children, holiday greeting cards, home décor, fine glassware and more.

Regular admission fees apply to visit. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program. Free First Saturdays are supported in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union, Marion Cultural Alliance and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

Contact CF Manager of Marketing and Public Relations Lisa McGinnes at 352-873-5800, ext. 1565, mcginnel@cf.edu or CF Marketing, Public and Community Relations Director Rachel Cote at 352-873-5800, ext. 1374, coter@cf.edu. The Ocala Campus is located at 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala, Fla. 34474-4415, 352-873-5800. The Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus is located at 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto, Fla. 34461-9026, 352-746-6721. The Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus is located at 15390 N.W. Highway 19, Chiefland, Fla. 32626, 352-493-9533. The Hampton Center is located at 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Fla. 34475-6456, 352-873-5881 and the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Fla. 34470-5001, 352-291-4455. For additional information, visit College of Central Florida at www.CF.edu. Topics and concepts presented at this event are for discussion purposes only and are not intended to espouse, promote, advance, inculcate, or compel individuals to believe the topics or concepts presented therein. Nor do they constitute endorsement of such topics or concepts by the College of Central Florida, its Board of Trustees, or any of their officers, employees or agents.