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Rhode Island "The Polar Express" Train Rides By The BVTC!

Published: November 10, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Each holiday season, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council (BVTC) brings a beloved story to life with The Polar Express train ride, an immersive, officially licensed experience that departs from northern Rhode Island.

The BVTC is noteworthy as operating the longest running production of this immensely popular train, which has ran every holiday season since 2000.

Equal parts theatrical production, local heritage celebration, and community homecoming, the event draws families from across New England to the historic Blackstone River Valley for a journey where hot chocolate flows, carols ring, and a silver bell reminds everyone to keep believing.

Who the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is

Founded in 1985, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life in Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley through sustainable, place-based tourism.

Based in the former mill communities that powered America’s early Industrial Revolution, BVTC champions the region’s history, culture, and natural resources.

Over the decades, the council has become known for innovative tourism development—riverboat excursions on the Blackstone River, festivals that spotlight local traditions, and partnerships that interpret the valley’s working landscape and immigrant story.

The BVTC was among the early advocates for the Blackstone River Valley as a national heritage destination, and its work complements the mission of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.

With a philosophy grounded in sustainability, the council uses tourism not just to attract visitors but to generate broad community benefit: supporting small businesses, restoring pride in mill towns, and reinvesting in experiences that make the region distinctive.

Why BVTC hosts The Polar Express

The Polar Express aligns naturally with BVTC’s mission. Practically, it extends the tourism season into late fall and winter, a time many destinations find challenging. Thematically, it celebrates railroading, storytelling, and community tradition—perfect fits for a place built around industry, transportation, and shared cultural memory.

The event draws thousands of visitors who dine in local restaurants, shop in nearby stores, and explore the valley’s museums and holiday markets. Proceeds help sustain the council’s year-round work in education, river stewardship, and cultural programming.

Just as importantly, the production offers something intangible but powerful: a sense of wonder. Parents and grandparents who once visited the valley’s mills for work return with children for a festive train ride that honors the past while creating new memories.

What to expect on board

Rhode Island’s Polar Express is produced under license as an Official THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, inspired by Chris Van Allsburg’s classic book and the Warner Bros. film adaptation.

Guests typically gather in the historic Woonsocket area, where festive décor and costumed hosts set the mood.

From the moment you present your golden ticket, you’re in the story: dancing chefs whisk through the aisles with hot chocolate and cookies, conductors punch tickets with flourish, and storytellers recite the book as scenes and songs unfold.

The ride usually lasts about an hour. The train travels along the Blackstone River Valley under twinkling lights, heading toward a theatrical “North Pole” set.

Santa boards to greet each car, and every child receives a silver sleigh bell—the “first gift of Christmas.” Photo opportunities, sing-alongs, and interactive moments keep even the youngest passengers engaged, while the gently rocking train provides a cozy, timeless backdrop.

BVTC and its production partners focus on details that make the experience welcoming. Families are encouraged to wear pajamas, just like in the story.

Staff and volunteers help with boarding and seating, and at least one coach is typically set up to accommodate guests with mobility needs. While specific logistics can change year to year, the council’s approach balances showmanship with safety and hospitality.

The railroad behind the magic: Providence & Worcester

Underpinning all of this is a real railroad with a proud regional history. The Polar Express in Rhode Island operates over a segment of the Providence and Worcester Railroad (P&W), a freight line that threads through the Blackstone River Valley’s mill towns.

Chartered in the mid-19th century to connect Providence, Rhode Island to Worcester, Massachusetts, P&W grew as the textile industry boomed along the river. For decades, its tracks served factories, warehouses, and workers who relied on rail to move raw cotton, finished cloth, machinery, and people.

After a period under lease to a larger railroad system, P&W re-emerged as an independent freight carrier in the 1970s and became known for well-maintained track and reliable service—hallmarks that make occasional passenger excursions possible.

Today, P&W is part of the Genesee & Wyoming family of railroads, but it continues to serve New England industries daily. Hosting a seasonal passenger event on freight rails requires close coordination, specialized safety planning, and extra hands behind the scenes. The fact that the Polar Express runs smoothly each year is a testament to that collaboration.

For riders, knowing that the experience unfolds on authentic New England rails adds texture. When the train glides past old brick mills, river crossings, and compact villages, you’re not just moving through a set—you’re traveling a corridor that helped launch America’s industrial story.

Economic and community impact

Beyond the magic, BVTC’s Polar Express delivers measurable benefits. The event:

• Extends the visitor season, filling hotel rooms and restaurant tables during a traditionally slower period.

• Creates seasonal jobs and opportunities for local performers, vendors, and craftspeople.

• Encourages first-time visitors to discover the valley’s museums, parks, and heritage sites, leading to return trips in warmer months.

• Generates revenue that the nonprofit reinvests in river restoration, youth education, and cultural programming.

It also offers intangible returns: a shared tradition that draws together families and neighbors; a positive spotlight on cities like Woonsocket, Pawtucket, and Central Falls; and a living connection between past and present, where railroads once carried shift workers to mills and today carry carols and cocoa to the “North Pole.”

Planning your visit

While specifics vary by season, a few general tips can help:

Book early. Popular departure dates and times sell out quickly, especially weekends and the days just before Christmas.

Arrive with time to spare. Pre-boarding activities, photo spots, and merchandise add to the fun and help avoid last-minute stress.

Dress for comfort and weather. Pajamas are encouraged, but remember New England nights can be chilly when walking to and from the station.

A tradition rooted in place

What distinguishes Rhode Island’s Polar Express is not only the quality of the production but the way it fits its place. The Blackstone River Valley’s story is one of transformation—of rivers harnessed to waterwheels, of immigrant communities building lives in mill towns, of innovation and resilience.

A holiday train that invites people to believe again is more than seasonal entertainment; it’s a reflection of a region that has reinvented itself before and continues to do so.

Final Thoughts

By hosting The Polar Express, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is doing what it has always done best: crafting experiences that celebrate the valley’s character, support its people, and invite the world to rediscover a remarkable corner of New England.

Whether you’re five or eighty-five, there’s something unforgettable about hearing a conductor call “All aboard!” then feeling the gentle pull of the train as it heads into the winter night.

In that moment, you’re part of a story that stretches from the first millstones on the Blackstone to the last jingle of a silver bell—proof that magic endures when communities care for it.  To learn more and purchase your tickets please click here to visit the BVTC's The Polar Express web page.