I recently heard about the Polar Express rides in December… They recreate the magical feeling of “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg around Christmas time. If you haven’t read the book, it’s about a boy taking a train ride to the North Pole on Christmas eve to receive a special gift from Santa.
There are many towns that you can book a ride through. I have listed some of the nearby towns below. The rides sell out amazingly fast and it’s recommended that you buy tickets weeks or sometimes months in advance. I found all of this information on Santa in Chicago, a site that lists all things Santa!
Berwyn
Santa on the Berwyn Polar Express for Families with Children who have Special Needs
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
Time: 12:25 pm to 3:30 pm (Train departs at 12:55 pm)
Trips departs: Berwyn Metra Train Station
6801 Windsor Avenue
Oak Park Avenue & Windsor
Berwyn, IL 60402
between Grove and Oak Park Avenues
Sponsor: West Suburban Special Recreation Association
(847) 455-2100
Pre-registration required – tickets are limited
Cost: Children – 11 and under $8 per child; Adults or any one over 12
$15 per person
This train trip is only for families of children who have disabilities and are members of West Suburban Special Recreation Association. Children take a real train ride, but make an imaginary trip to the North Pole (actually the Aurora train station). The delightful Polar Express story is used as the basis for the trip and will be read. Santa will join everyone at the North Pole and will be part of the joyful ride home. Refreshments will be served and wheelchair seating is available.
Santa on the Berwyn Polar Express
Saturday, December 10th, Sunday, December 11th, 2011
Times: 2:30 pm to 5:14 pm (Train departs at 2:45 pm)
Trips departs: Berwyn Metra Train Station
6801 Windsor Avenue
Berwyn, IL 60402
between Grove and Oak Park Avenues
Sponsor: Berwyn Park District
(708) 795-2892
Pre-registration required – Registration begins October 3rd
Cost: $8 – children ages 1 to 11; $15 ages 12 and up
This train trip takes Berwyn children to the North Pole (actually the Aurora train station). The Polar Express story will be read on the train. Santa will join the children at the North Pole and make the return trip with them where there will be plenty of fun for all.
Burr Ridge
Santa on the Burr Ridge Polar Express
Sunday, December 4th, 2011
Time: 8:45 am to 12:55 pm
Trips departs: Hinsdale Metra Train Station
21 E. Hinsdale Avenue
Hinsdale, IL 60521
Sponsor: Burr Ridge Park District
(630) 920-1969
Pre-registration required
Cost: $38 residents; $43 non-residents
Enjoy a holiday favorite—a Polar Express trip from the Hinsdale train station to the North Pole where you will have a buffet breakfast. Here the children meet with Santa, have a picture taken and enjoy holiday crafts and entertainment plus they take home a gift.
Clarendon Hills
Santa on the Clarendon Hills Polar Express
Sunday, December 4th, 2011
Time: 1 pm to 3 pm
Trip departs: Clarendon Hills Metra Station
1 South Prospect Avenue
Prospect Avenue at Burlington
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514
Sponsor: Clarendon Hills Park District
(630) 323-2626
registration required
Cost: $20 per person – children under one year of age are free
There will be the magical “Polar Express” story on the train, hot chocolate and cookies. When the train reaches the North Pole—Aurora, Santa joins the group. He will be on the ride back for songs with the children and a chance for you to take pictures.
Downers Grove
Santa on the Downers Grove Polar Express
Saturday, November 19th
Sunday, November, 20th, 2011
Times Saturday: Two departures, 8:40 am to 10:45 am and 10:45 am to 12:45 pm
Times Sunday: Two departures, 12:40 pm to 2:45 pm and 2:45 pm to 4:45 pm
Trips depart: Downers Grove Main Street Metra Station
Sponsor: Downers Grove Park District
(630) 963 1300
registration required
Cost: Residents $30 – non-residents $40
Hop on the train in Downers Grove for the magical trip to the North Pole—Aurora. On the way the “The Polar Express” story will be read and chocolate milk and cookies will be served. At the North Pole, Santa Claus boards the train and joins in the merriment for the return trip. Early registration is open to Downers Grove residents only, non-residents will be placed on a wait list until residents have been accommodated. Note: These trips are very popular and book up early.
Santa on the Downers Grove JBSRA Polar Express
Saturday, December 10th
Sunday, December 11th, 2011
Time: T/B/A
Trips depart: Downers Grove Main Street Metra Station
Sponsor: Joliet-Bolingbrook Special Recreation Association
(630) 739-5806
registration required – deadline October 1st.
Cost: $39
The Joliet-Bolingbrook Special Recreation Association—JBSRA has a Polar Express trip for their members who have disabilities. The journey for this exciting trip starts at the Downers Grove Metra station. On the way the the Polar Express story will be read. Upon arrival, everyone heads for Walter Payton’s Roundhouse where pictures with Santa will be taken and there will be snacks, beverages and holiday entertainment.
Elmhurst
Santa on the Elmhurst Polar Express
Sunday, December 4th, 2011
Times: Two departures – 11 am to 1:15 pm and 3 pm to 5:15 pm
Trips departs: Elmhurst Metra Station
128 W. 1st Street at York Road
Sponsor: Elmhurst Park District
(630) 993-8901
registration required
Cost: $18 Adult resident; $ 22 Adult non-resident
$13 Child resident; $20 Child non-resident
The “Polar Express” story comes to life when the children get on the train to go to the North Pole—Elburn. There will be treats, Christmas carols, cookies and a special visit with Santa Claus on the way home.
Glen Ellyn
Santa on the Glen Ellyn Polar Express
Saturday, December 10th, & 17th
Sunday, December 18th, 2011
Times: Saturday, December 10th, 1st departure 9:10 am -10:40 am
Saturday December, 10th, 2nd departure 11:10 am -1 pm
Saturday, December, 17th ,departs 9:10 am -10:40 am
Sunday, December 18th, 1st departure – 1:10 pm – 3 pm
Sunday, December 18th, 2nd departure – 3:10 pm – 5 pm
All trips depart: Glen Ellyn Metra Station
551 Crescent, Glen Ellyn
Sponsor: Glen Ellyn Park District
For information:
(630) 858-2462
registration required
Cost: $20 per resident child; $30 per non-resident child.
$12 per resident adult; $18 per non-resident adult.
Be sure not to miss the train for this trip to the North Pole. Guess what, the Polar Express will be read to the kids who will recycie their own copy of the story. Chocolate milk and cookies will be served and everyone gets to talk to Santa and sing holiday songs. For children age one year and up.
Hinsdale
Santa on the Hinsdale Polar Express
Sunday, December 18th, 2011
Trip Times: 9 am to 12:15 pm and 3 pm to 6:20 pm
Trip departs: Hinsdale Metra Station
21 W. Hinsdale Avenue (Hinsdale at Washington Street)
Sponsor: Hinsdale Park and Recreation Department
(630) 789-7090
registration required
Cost: $37 per person, ages two and up.
Non-residents $55 per person
Get on the train in your pajamas in Hinsdale and head for the North Pole where you’ll meet with Santa Claus. A buffet meal will be served at the North Pole (Walter Payton’s Roundhouse Restaurant—in the Aurora station). There will be time for photographs, crafts and more. This program is restricted to Hinsdale residents. Non residents can register after November 15th if there are any remaining spots.
La Grange
Santa on the La Grange Polar Express
Saturday, December 10th, 2011
Time: 8:45 am – 11:05 am
Trip departs: La Grange Road Metra Station
125 W. Burlington Rd.
LaGrange, IL 60525
Sponsor: Park District of La Grange
(630) 993-8901
registration required
Cost: Adults $15 residents; $20 non-residents
Children $12 residents; $16 non-residents
This Polar Express trip heads for Naperville which is the North Pole where they are going to meet Santa Claus. The Polar Expres story will be read on the trip, there will be a drink and a treat in Naperville. Santa will then hop on board for the return trip, where the fun for everyone will continue.
Lombard
Santa on the Lombard Polar Express
Saturday, December, 10th,
Sunday, December 11th, 2011
Times: 10:45 am to 2:30 pm
Trips departs: Downers Grove Main Street Metra Station
Sponsor: Butterfield Park District
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 858-2229
registration required – registration ends November 18th
Cost: $30 per person for residents; $40 per person non-residents; children under two are free
Children will take a magical train ride to the North Pole, where they will go to Santa’s workshop for lunch. Santa’s workshop is America’s Banquets in Aurora. While there, they will make a holiday craft and have pictures with the jolly old elf. They will also have time for some great games. Santa Claus will read a classic holiday story and there will be holiday songs on the trip home.
Oakbrook Terrace
Santa Train in Oakbrook Terrace
Saturday December 10th,
Sunday December 11th, 2011
Times: 11 am to 2:30 pm
Trip departs: Downers Grove Metra Station
Main Street Station
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Sponsor: Oakbrook Terrace Parks Department & Butterfield Park District
(630) 627-6100
reservations required – Deadline November 18th
Cost: $30 per person for Oakbrook Terrace residents and $40 for non-residents.
Take a ride to the North Pole and hear the story of the Polar Express. At Santa’s workshop (America’s Banquets in Aurora), lunch will be served and there will be pictures with Santa and a holiday craft. One the way home, there will be Christmas songs and Santa will read a story.
Oak Park
Santa on the Oak Park Trolley Express
Sunday, December 11th, 2011
Six trolly trips are scheduled
Times: 10 am to 11:30 am; 10:30 am to Noon; 11:15 am to 12:30 pm
11:45 am to 1:15 pm; 12:30 pm to 2 pm; 12:45 pm to 2 pm
Trips departs: Barrie Center
1011 Lombard
Oak Park, IL 60302
Sponsor: Park District of Oak Park
(708) 383-0002
registration required
Cost: $12 residents; $18 non-residents
The kids from Oak Park can take their exciting Polar Express train trip to the North Pole to find Santa. There will be chocolate milk, cookies, stories and holiday songs and Santa visits—you’ll also meet Mrs. Claus Families will be selected by lottery.
These Polar Express trips are not on the train, they are motorized trolly rides.
Westmont
Santa on the Westmont Polar Express
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
Times: 11 am to 12:30 pm & 3 pm to 4:30 pm
Trip departs: Westmont Metra Train Station
1 West Quincy Street (Quincy & N. Cass Avenue.
Sponsor: Westmont Park District
Westmont Center
1 S. Cass Avenue
Westmont, IL 60559
(630) 963-5252
registration required
Cost: Residents $15; non-residents $23
Everyone meets at the Westmont Center where the “Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg will be read. The next stop is the Westmont Metra Train Station for the trip to the North Pole—Aurora, where the kids will meet Santa and his elves and enjoy refreshments. There will be music and entertainment on the return trip. Families are limited to ten tickets.
Willowbrook
Santa on the Willowbrook Polar Express
Sunday, December 4th, 2011
Time: 8:45 am to 12:55 pm
Trips departs: Hinsdale Metra Train Station
21 E. Hinsdale Avenue
Hinsdale, IL 60521
Sponsor: Willowbrook Park District
For information call the
Burr Ridge Park District (630) 920-1969
Pre-registration required
Cost: $36 residents; $41 non-residents
Enjoy a holiday favorite—a Polar Express trip from the Hinsdale train station to the North Pole where everyone will enjoy a buffet breakfast. Here the children meet with Santa, have a picture taken and enjoy holiday crafts and entertainment plus they take home a gift. This program is done in cooperation with the Burr Ridge Park District.
