Christmas will be here before you know it and you know what that means.  Santa Claus is coming to town!  Several towns throughout Vermont are having Christmas Train Rides to celebrate his arrival.   Here’s your chance to plan a unique holiday adventure sure to please young and old.

The North Pole Express takes to the rails December 1-2, from Lyndonville, VT.  Experience the old time magic of Christmas aboard fully-enclosed and heated vintage coaches as you travel to The North Pole to pick up the lively elves and, of course, Santa.  Snuggle in (pajamas are encouraged, but not required) for story reading, hot cocoa, holiday cookies and caroling on the way to The North Pole where Santa boards the train and greets all passengers and presents them with a special gift.  Tickets sell fast, so make sure you make your reservation soon.

All aboard the Santa Train in Rutland, VT on Saturday, December 1st.   The Santa Train embarks from the Rutland Amtrak Station for a 45 minute ride that takes you through Santa’s Village. While on the beautifully decorated train, guests receive refreshments, stories, songs and much more. Grab the family and enjoy a unique holiday event.  This is a one day event so make sure you don’t miss out. There are 5 departure times throughout the day.  Who knows, you might even get to meet Santa himself.

Of course, you don’t have to go on ride on a train to combine Christmas festivities and trains.  Essex Junction, Vt is having their Annual Essex Junction Train Hop and Tree Lighting on December 7th.  The village lights up for a jolly evening with model train displays all over town and a free trolly shuttle to Maple Street Park for merriment and music. Festivities begin at 5:30. Grab a map and join in.

Next stop, White River Junction, Vt. for The Hartford VT Polar Express on December 8-9.  Enjoy an exciting ride along the river ending at the North Pole. You can even wear your PJs to be a part of the Polar Express experience. Children of all ages will be read the Polar Express story and enjoy holiday sing-alongs while drinking hot chocolate and eating a homemade cookie.  Once at the North Pole, Santa boards the train to greet every child.  Keeping with the tradition of the Polar Express, every child will get their first gift of the season, their very own Polar Express Bell. Photos with Santa will be available at Santa’s photo shop. You can even enter a raffle to win an original Lionel Polar Express Train Set!

Finally, we make our way to Manchester, Vt. where the Lions Club presents The Elf Express on December 15-16.  This whimsical holiday train will leave r.k. Miles Depot Station on a one-hour journey through the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. You will be entertained with holiday songs and dance routines by the elves (made up of the theater and dance tudents of Burr and Burton Academy under the direction of Broadway and Hollywood song and dance man, Jim Raposa.) Refreshments will be served on the train and, adding to the memories, the elves will read a special story about Christopher Pop-In-Kins, who is hiding on the train to see who’s been naughty or nice!  Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will make a surprise appearance as they and the elves help board passengers for a ride of a lifetime.  This is a Pop-In-Kins adventure you don’t want to miss.

So grab your family, get in the holiday spirit, and take a ride on a holiday train.

For these holiday events and more, be sure to check out the Vermont.com Calendar of Events.
Want to see what the weather will be like?  Go to the Vermont.com Weather page.