By Ruth Ann Ruiz
The Post Newspaper Features Editor
The Polar Express is rolling down the tracks at Galveston’s Railroad Museum. Though the weather is not at all like the North Pole. In fact, it is rather balmy and tropical. Still, the local climate did not impede the joy and excitement of children and adults on a trip to the North Pole onboard the Polar Express.
In the opening act for the experiential theatrical evening, children in their pajamas gathered with their parents who are also in pajamas in front of the Christmas tree for family photos.
After that, the children sat in front of the stage where they listened with wide eyes of anticipation to Christmas tunes and gazed intently while the very tall train engineer spoke to them.
Then suddenly, amid the Christmas merriment, a train conductor hopped onto the set and directed everyone to come aboard.
The train lurched forward with children sitting in their seats wearing looks of awe and anticipation. Throughout the ride, children and adults onboard were kept amused with the theatrics of the actors who sing, dance and read aloud all the way along the route to the North Pole.
Santa himself makes his way into the train and gifts each child with a bell as their first gift of Christmas.
Kai, who is just five, came on the journey with his two sisters, Hali and Zellie. They came from League city to catch the ride. Little Kai had no doubts when asked what his favorite part of the trip was.
“Santa was my favorite!” Kai said as he headed off the train and into the North Pole.
Outside of the train are Santa’s helpers and more Christmas joy to be experienced, such as grabbing on the rope of a bell and listening to it clang out or posing with Santa’s helpers —who — some of us were told — were Ball High School cheerleaders.
Santa’s helpers were eager to spend their precious time spreading Christmas joy and magic.
“I can’t wait to see the smiles on their faces,” one helper said.
“It’s lovely to see the kids happy,” said another helper.
A trip to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express in Galveston is truly a Christmas experience that captivates both adults and children from their first step inside the entrance of the historic train station till they exit out of the back of the depot.
To find out trip times and to purchase tickets, please go to https://galvestonrrmuseum.org/the-polar-express/.
