For the first time this year, Boothbay Railway Village Museum's annual Polar Express train left Freeport Station, at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 with a full passenger list. There are eight trains to see Santa and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole: That's one every 45 minutes with a final train departing at 4 p.m.

In addition to the train ride, families are invited to go on the elf scavenger hunt - details included in the event program given to everyone upon arrival. Inside the Station, cozy thanks to the classic woodstove, tables are set up with paper, crayons and markers for each child to write their wish list to give to Santa.

On the way to the North Pole, children and their families ride by familiar Christmas characters and through a magical covered bridge decorated in sparking white lights!

Because the Polar Express is running during a time Maine is extra cold due to a polar vortex, Santa and Mrs. Claus boarded the train to speak to the young ones and receive their wish lists written at Freeport Station.

Once back from the North Pole, families make their way to the 1847 Boothbay Town Hall where hot chocolate, sweets, popcorn and more treats await. There's a holiday model train set near the stage with two trains running through a charming town, complete with a carousel!

More baked goods are being sold as a fundraiser by and for the Class of 2029 near the door. 

"The first weekend was fantastic!" said BRVM marketing director Lori Reynolds. "We are looking forward to the next two weekends."

Tickets are available for the four remaining dates - Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21 - st https://shorturl.at/etTVP. Attendance supports Boothbay Railway Village Museum, founded in 1964. The museum's opening weekend was Memorial Day 1965. Since then, visitors have been both entertained and informed through exhibits, housed in buildings that are exhibits themselves, on Maine's narrow gauge railroads and life in Maine mid-19th through the mid-20th centuries.