THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Burlington, Vermont

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Burlington, Vermont, is the main fundraiser of the Vermont Children's Trust Foundation, and all proceeds benefit the foundation. The adventure begins in the Wing Building lobby at the bottom of King Street, just south of Union Station.

Conductors greet passengers as they board the train for a ride of about 20 minutes to the "North Pole" (Union Station), with hot cocoa and cookies served by chefs and a Christmas carol sing-along. There children pass through a sea of elves, hear the story read aloud with artwork from the book on a big screen, and then Santa appears and gives each child a bell from his sleigh.

The foundation says the event relies on more than 700 volunteers. It offers a sensory-friendly train in partnership with Seed and Sew, and says the event is handicap accessible.

About one hour and 15 minutes including 15 minutes of boarding: a ride of about 20 minutes with cocoa, cookies and a carol sing-along, the story read aloud at Union Station, and Santa giving each child a bell from his sleigh. Passengers are encouraged to wear pajamas.

Boarding is at the Wing Building lobby at the bottom of King Street, Burlington, Vermont, just south of Union Station; engineers welcome families into the south entrance. The foundation calls the event handicap accessible and asks passengers who need special services to email info@vtchildrenstrust.org by December 1 to say which train they are riding; handicap parking is in the Cornerstone Parking garage off King Street at Steele Street, and a handicap tag must be visible or the car will be towed. After the event, everyone should walk down Battery Street to return to their cars. Children with food allergies should bring their own cocoa and cookies. A sensory-friendly train is offered in partnership with Seed and Sew.