Please refer to this page only for special school group performances on Monday, November 24, and Monday, December 8. These performances are exclusively for school groups and take place in the morning and early afternoon. For all other dates and times for THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, please visit www.nctransportationmuseum.org/the-polar-express-train-ride or call 704-469-5231.
Located at: North Carolina Transportation Museum | 1 Samuel Spencer Drive – Spencer, N.C.
Monday, November 24 at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Monday, December 8 at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION OPENS: Monday, August 25 at 9:00 a.m.
Refunds and Exchanges:
Purchased tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged, so please check the date, time, and location carefully before purchasing. No rainchecks will be offered. All rides continue rain or shine.
Group Rate Pricing:
$28.89* for Students
(Pre-K through 12th grade)
$28.89* for Teachers
$41.73* for Adult Chaperones
*Prices include N.C. Sales Tax*
Bus driver receives a complimentary ticket
Homeschool Groups: 1 teacher per 5 paying students may ride at the $28.89 rate. Additional adult chaperones will receive the $41.73 rate.
Only one car (“Noel”) is wheelchair accessible with space for five wheelchair riders along with accompanying seats”.
Groups needing to book a wheelchair space should contact Meghan DeLapp at 980-305-6298 or meghan.delapp@dncr.nc.gov. All other cars of the train require climbing steps and walking through rail cars to seats.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride offers the unique experience of a live theater performance and train ride in one. Our performances begin with the train’s arrival in the station at the Barber Junction Visitor Center. After watching a short production, taken from Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express, all guests are invited aboard. During THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, passengers are served hot chocolate and a cookie, and delight in lively songs, dance and the reading of the holiday classic The Polar Express book. Upon arrival at the North Pole, passengers deboard to watch Santa present the first gift of Christmas. Santa then joins passengers on the train and provides each believer with a silver sleigh bell before exiting the train.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride event will offer two stage performances and the train ride. The experience lasts about 70 minutes and will take place entirely on the grounds of the N.C. Transportation Museum. Pictures with Santa will be available at Candy Cane Lane after THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
Reservations and Payment Deadlines
Registration Opens: Monday, August 25, 2025 at 9:00am
Non-Refundable Deposit: Due Two Weeks From Initial Reservation Date
Final Payment/Headcount: Due Friday, October 17, 2025*
*Groups reserving after the October 17 deadline must pay in full up front at time of reservation.
How Do We Reserve Our Group?
Step One: Reservation Preparation
Please have the following information compiled before calling to make your reservation:
1. Group Name
2. Primary Coordinator Name/Phone/Email
3. Secondary Coordinator Name/Phone/Email
4. Performance Date*
o Monday, November 24
o Monday, December 8
5. Performance Time*
o 10:00 a.m. (Must arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. for check-in)
o 11:30 a.m. (Must arrive no later than 11:00 a.m. for check-in)
o 1:00 p.m. (Must arrive no later than 12:30 p.m. for check-in)
6. Total Participant Counts:
a. Students:
b. Teachers:
c. Adult Chaperones:
7. ADA Accessible Wheelchair Space Request (5 spaces available per ride)*
8. Will your group be eating lunch on-site (using picnic shelter)?
9. Expected Arrival/Departure Time
*Performance dates and times are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited seating is available for each performance.
Step Two: Reserve Your Group
Once registration opens, please contact one of the following staff members to complete your reservation:
Meghan DeLapp
980-305-6298
OR
Matthew McCarthy
980-305-6282
Step Three: Non-Refundable Deposit
A non-refundable deposit of $10 per person is required. An additional $10 will be charged for each person added to the reservation after the initial deposit has been made. Additional reservations are subject to availability. Inquiries and adjustments on existing reservations can be made by group leader only.
Please note that all non-refundable deposits must be paid no later than two weeks from the initial reservation date. All reservations are considered unconfirmed until the non-refundable deposit has been paid. If the deposit has not been paid within the allotted two week time-frame, the unconfirmed reservation will be lost and tickets will be released and available for purchase by other groups. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Step Four: Final Payments and Participant Totals
Final payments and final participant totals are due by Friday, October 17, 2025. If payment is not received by this date, the group reservation will be lost. Deposits are non-refundable. There are no exceptions to this policy.*
*Groups reserving after the October 17 deadline must pay in full up front at time of reservation.
For questions, please contact Meghan DeLapp at 980-305-6298 or meghan.delapp@dncr.nc.gov or Matthew McCarthy at 980-305-6282 or matthew.mccarthy@dncr.nc.gov. Please call or email the above individuals ONLY for the school group daytime performances on November 24 and December 8.
For all other performances, please book online at www.nctransportationmuseum.org/the-polar-express-train-ride/ or call 704-469-5231.
Refunds and Exchanges:
Purchased tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged, so please check the date, time, and location carefully before purchasing. No rainchecks will be offered. All rides continue rain or shine.
Group Rate Pricing:
$28.89* for Students
(Pre-K through 12th grade)
$28.89* for Teachers
$41.73* for Adult Chaperones
*Prices include N.C. Sales Tax*
Bus driver receives a complimentary ticket
Homeschool Groups: 1 teacher per 5 paying students may ride at the $28.89 rate. Additional adult chaperones will receive the $41.73 rate.
Group ticket rates are for standard coach seats only. Only one car (“Dasher”) is wheelchair accessible with space for two wheelchair riders.
Groups needing to book a wheelchair space should contact Meghan DeLapp at 980-305-6298 or meghan.delapp@dncr.nc.gov. All other cars of the train require climbing steps and walking through rail cars to seats.
Enjoy the magic of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at N.C. Transportation Museum 1 Samuel Spencer Dr. Spencer, NC 28159