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Vermont "The Polar Express" Train Rides In Burlington!

Published: November 8, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Each holiday season, the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation turns the magic of The Polar Express into a real-world, all-ages experience that delights families and fuels vital support for children across the state.

These official, licensed “The Polar Express” train rides unfold on the shores of Lake Champlain, hosted by the Vermont Rail System on its Vermont Railway line in Burlington. It’s a beloved tradition, a community-wide production, and the foundation’s signature fundraiser—all rolled into one joyful ride.

What makes these excursions “official” is important. The Polar Express train ride is a licensed adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic book, brought to life under the authorization that ensures the details you remember from the pages are faithfully translated onboard. That means golden tickets, cocoa and cookies, a dramatic reading, carols, and Santa himself delivering the iconic silver sleigh bell. Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation (VCTF) coordinates this experience with the Vermont Rail System, which provides the real locomotive power, coaches, and crew. The start and finish typically center around Burlington’s historic Union Station on Main Street, with the train gliding along the Burlington waterfront for a short, story-driven journey to a festive “North Pole.”

While the storybook magic draws families in, the purpose is deeply practical: VCTF uses the event to raise funds and awareness for children’s programs that strengthen families and prevent problems before they start. Proceeds support grants to community-based organizations throughout Vermont—think after-school programs, parent education, mentoring, early childhood initiatives, and prevention efforts that help kids grow up safe, supported, and resilient. In other words, every laugh, bell jingle, and cocoa sip helps expand opportunities for Vermont’s children.

The experience itself is designed for immersion and connection. Guests are encouraged to wear pajamas, just like in the book. Volunteer “chefs” and “conductors” welcome families at the station and on board, setting the tone with theatrical flair. As the train departs, attendants serve hot chocolate and cookies while a reading of The Polar Express sets hearts and imaginations in motion. The conductor may punch golden tickets, children might sing along to familiar carols, and parents usually find themselves swept up in the nostalgia as Lake Champlain glides past the windowpanes. The ride is purposefully not about miles traveled—it’s about minutes fully lived. The destination, a delightfully appointed “North Pole,” comes to life with elves, lights, and the much-anticipated arrival of Santa, who boards the train to visit with children and present the symbolic sleigh bell. For many families, that bell becomes a keepsake of both the story and the season.

The Vermont Rail System is an essential partner in making this possible. As the host railroad, Vermont Rail System provides the locomotives, passenger equipment, crews, and operational expertise to run a safe, smooth, and authentic excursion. The setting is hard to beat: Burlington’s waterfront corridor offers a picturesque backdrop, combining the city’s historic rail heritage with sweeping lake views. Because the route is short and the timing precise, the railroad’s coordination—scheduling, equipment preparation, and onboard logistics—ensures each departure feels polished and on time, even across multiple runs per day during peak weekends in December.

VCTF’s event works because it’s a true community project. Hundreds of volunteers help transform the station and train into a storybook set, donate time to choreography and character roles, and support behind-the-scenes logistics including ticketing, accessibility planning, and hospitality. Local businesses often pitch in with sponsorships or in-kind support. That community spirit is exactly what VCTF invests in year-round: neighbor-to-neighbor efforts that boost kids’ well-being. The foundation’s grantmaking emphasizes prevention and upstream solutions, because strong families and engaged communities are the best protective factors for children. In practical terms, your ticket to The Polar Express Train Ride helps underwrite grants for mentoring programs, early childhood supports, parenting classes, and school-community partnerships that help kids thrive.

If you’re considering going, a few practical notes are helpful. Tickets are in high demand and tend to sell out quickly. VCTF typically announces ticketing details in the fall, with specific dates, times, and pricing. In recent years, demand has been high enough that the foundation has used lotteries or timed releases to keep access fair. It’s wise to join VCTF’s mailing list or follow their announcements so you don’t miss your window. Because the event is built for families, there is careful attention to stroller parking, restrooms, and keeping lines moving, but it’s still smart to arrive early and build in extra time for parking and check-in at Union Station. If accessibility is a concern, reach out to the organizers in advance; they work hard to accommodate needs wherever possible.

The train ride has also become a tradition of inclusion. VCTF is mission-driven and community-centered, which frequently includes setting aside tickets for families served by their grantees and for children who might otherwise be unable to attend. That spirit of generosity—neighbors helping neighbors—puts VCTF’s mission on full display and gives donors a direct line of sight to the joy their support creates. Many attendees find that the event opens a new window onto the foundation’s work, leading them to become volunteers, repeat donors, or ambassadors for youth programs in their own communities.

Why does this format work so well as a fundraiser? First, it’s experiential and memorable. Instead of a gala or auction, the event gives families a shared moment they’ll talk about for years. Second, it’s values-aligned. The book celebrates belief, wonder, kindness, and the importance of being seen—all themes that resonate with VCTF’s mission to uplift children. Third, it’s deeply local. Partnering with the Vermont Rail System means the ride is born of Vermont’s own rail heritage and nonprofit community, even as it connects to a globally loved story.

For rail fans and newcomers alike, there’s also a special pleasure in seeing and riding a real train dressed for the holidays. The hardware matters: the rumble of the locomotive, the rhythm of the wheels, the glow of car lights on winter evenings. The Vermont Rail System’s involvement brings that authenticity. And for the foundation, that partnership translates into capacity: moving hundreds of people smoothly, safely, and on schedule across multiple departures is no small feat.

Beyond December, The Polar Express Train Ride tends to create lasting ripple effects. Families who attend often discover VCTF for the first time and learn how local grants seed innovative programs—everything from early literacy and playgroups to teen mentoring and parent support networks. Volunteers gain a deeper connection to the community and a tangible sense of impact. Sponsors see their support translate into both joy and measurable outcomes for kids. And Vermont’s reputation for cozy, community-centered holiday traditions gets a shining example right on the Burlington waterfront.

If the sound of sleigh bells and a conductor’s cheerful “All aboard!” calls to you, consider planning early. Keep an eye on the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation’s announcements for current-season dates, ticketing procedures, and volunteer opportunities. And know that when you step onto that coach, cocoa in hand, you’re doing more than taking a ride—you’re joining a statewide effort to ensure Vermont’s children have the strong, supportive start they deserve.

Final Thoughts

In short: the official Polar Express Train Ride in Vermont is hosted by the Vermont Rail System on its Vermont Railway line in Burlington and presented by the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation. It’s a faithful, licensed rendition of the beloved story, an unforgettable family outing, and a powerful fundraiser that turns holiday magic into year-round support for children and families across the state.  To learn more about this event please click here.