Devitt’s Nursery in New Windsor is serving some egg-citing news to the community this holiday season.
Local Christmas icon Eggbert has once again returned to Devitt’s, but this holiday season will feature an egg-stra special surprise for the talking egg. His lifelong female friend, EggClair, has come home.
Eggbert introduced EggClair to Santa at the 1930’s World Fair. EggClair has been away working with Santa since then. She was the director of toy-making and eventually moved on to be Santa’s personal liaison for the rest of the world. She traveled the world spreading joy to children and helped Santa with his list.
At nearly one century old, Eggclair has become eggs-hausted and decided to slow down a bit. She has returned home to New Windsor and will begin helping Eggbert at Christmas on the Farm, a tradition held at Devitt’s for over 50 years.
EggClair will be introducing herself to the community as they stop in to meet her. She will be singing Christmas carols. Maganini Winery has also developed a vintage product for her.
This Christmas season also marks the return of Eggbert, who took a few years off due to the pandemic.
Eggbert is an animatronic talking egg. He is nothing to yolk about. He spends his time with each visitor asking them about their upcoming holiday plans and occasionally tells a joke or two. He is known to be a comedi-hen.
Eggbert was developed by Cornell University in 1930 to promote the egg industry when they needed marketing help. Eggbert made an appearance in the 1930 World Fair.
In 1971, late Devitt’s owner Jack Devitt acquired Eggbert and he immediately became a local favorite.
In the early 1990s, it was rumored that Eggbert was lost in a fire at their former location at Windsor Highway and Ruscitti Road. Although Devitt’s did experience some loss, Eggbert was not poached.
The Christmas trail hosts 15 large displays, most of which are interactive. Those attending can can ride a Christmas train, visit with Santa, write letters to the North Pole in Eggbert’s post office, visit Eggbert’s barnyard friends, try a new slot car track, sing Christmas carols with EggClair, and much more.
Devitt’s is located at 56 Devitt Circle, located on Windsor Highway just north of the former Duffer’s Driving Range and QuickChek.
The two eggheads will interact with the customers every Friday through Sunday from November 25, 2022 until and including Christmas Eve. They will be available every Friday from 3:00pm to 7:00pm, except Black Friday which will be from 10:00am to 5:00pm. They will also be available on Saturdays from 10:00am to 5:00pm and on Sundays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
The cost to visit Christmas on the Farm is $15 at the door. Children ages three and under are admitted free.
The Devitt’s holiday shop is open seven days a week during normal business hours.
For more information on Eggbert and EggClair, consult your hen-cyclopedia.
