THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride — Colorado Railroad Museum

The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden stages THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride on its railyard each winter. The museum calls it a three-part theatrical extravaganza that combines live performance, immersive storytelling, and a journey aboard an authentic steam train.

The evening starts in the museum's Polar Express Pavilion with a cabaret-style pre-show, a Hot Chocolate song and dance performance, and a dramatic reading and re-enactment of the Polar Express story. The museum notes that arrival time matters because of its pavilion seating arrangement. The train ride to the North Pole follows, and the museum stresses that it is only one chapter in the multi-part experience.

Performances are scheduled three times each evening. The season launches with shows several evenings each week and increases to daily after Thanksgiving. Standard seating is sold per person, and first class is sold by the table of four.

The Colorado Railroad Museum is a 15-acre railyard with more than 100 locomotives and is open daily; this page covers only the holiday production.

The museum describes a three-part theatrical production combining live performance, immersive storytelling and a steam train ride to the North Pole. The evening starts in a heated pavilion with a cabaret-style pre-show, the Hot Chocolate song and dance served with cocoa and cookies, and a dramatic re-enactment of the story; guests then walk outdoors to board the train. Arrival time is important because of the pavilion seating, and the museum suggests arrival times ahead of each main show start.

Held at the Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th Avenue, Golden, Colorado 80403. The museum suggests arriving about 30 minutes before each main show start so you do not miss the pre-show. Lap riders under 2 are free. Standard seating and first class tables (sold by the table of four, with a preferred-viewing option) are offered, and the museum says performances before Thanksgiving are discounted. Museum members get an exclusive presale window before public sales. The museum has a dedicated FAQ page for the event and can be reached on 800-365-6263.