THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride returns to the B&O to celebrate its 20th anniversary this holiday season!
Event Dates:
November 29-30 & December 1, 6-8, 12-15 & 18-22, 2024
Discounted Bronze seats available for B&O Members!
Climb aboard The Polar Express™ to create a Christmas memory you and your family will cherish forever! Come in your pajamas as a family to watch the live performance of The Polar Express™. Once the train ride begins, the classic Hot Chocolate song and dance will be performed and everyone will have the opportunity to meet Santa and receive the First Gift of Christmas, a silver sleigh bell! Santa’s helpers will greet you upon arrival at the North Pole, where you can enjoy crafts at Santa’s village, make s’mores in the Candy Cane Cafe, shop for fun, themed The Polar Express™ goodies, and have your picture taken with Santa!
New for 2024: Add-On To Your Event Experience!
Enhance your North Pole experience after you ride The Polar Express™! These items can be added to your ticket purchase – Save 15% when you bundle all 3!
- Rides on the North Pole’s Santa Sleigh Ride, an amusement ride located just outside of Santa’s workshop
- S’mores at the Candy Cane Café – Gather your family around one of our fire pits and enjoy S’mores for the holidays.
- Your very own Polar Express Book – What better way to remember your trip than to have your own Polar Express book to take home signed by Santa himself!
Add-ons are per passenger. For groups, please purchase an add-on for each member of your party.
Ticket Information
Get your tickets before they’re gone!
Select desired date on ticket page to see available showtimes.
B&O Members: enter your Member ID or email in the Members log in at checkout to receive discounts on Bronze tickets!
Gold Class Table Top Booths for 4
Gold Class Individual Seats
Silver Class Quad Bench Seating for 4
Bronze Class Individual Seats
All tickets are non-refundable and may not be exchanged. Please review orders carefully before purchasing. Each person aged 2 and up will need a ticket for this event. Children under the age of 2 are welcome to attend and do not need a ticket when seated on a lap. If they require their own seat, please purchase an additional ticket.
Gold or Silver class tickets must be purchased in the same transaction to be seated together.
Please note: Gold and Silver class cars are not handicap accessible.
The B&O Railroad Museum is CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC during this event. ADVANCE PURCHASE REQUIRED. Only THE POLAR EXPRESS™ ticket holders are permitted entrance. Regular admission is not available on event days and only Polar Express ticket holders will be permitted to enter. Coupons, consignment tickets, memberships are not accepted during this event.
Doors open at the time indicated on your ticket. Early entry not available for this event.
Ticket Class Comparison
| Amenity | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heated Cars | X | X | X |
| Meet Santa | X | X | X |
| Everyone receives a Silver Bell | X | X | X |
| Fresh made Hot Chocolate | X | X | X |
| Fresh baked Sugar Cookie | X | X | X |
| Narrated Story | X | X | X |
| Dancing Chefs | X | X | X |
| Sing-a-long Carols | X | X | X |
| Padded Seats | X | X | X |
| Assigned Seating | X | X | |
| Family Quad Seating (two facing bench seats) | X | ||
| Booths with Tables & Individual Plush Seats | X | ||
| Souvenir Ceramic The Polar Express™ Mug | X |
Plan Your Visit
Plan your visit ahead of time! Please arrive at the time on your ticket. This is a timed entry event. Early entry is not available for this event.
- Parking: FREE parking is available at the B&O parking lot at 1100 James Street (entrance is on Arlington Street). Please enter this event through the North Car Shop off Arlington Street, not the main Museum entrance at 901 W. Pratt Street.
- Zone 1: Welcome Depot — Join us in the Welcome Depot at the time listed on your ticket. Enjoy some pre-show concessions, holiday crafts, TK the DJ and a dance floor, and get excited about hopping on the Polar Express!
- Zone 2: Show Intro — Meet the Hero Boy and the Conductor from the classic tale.
- Zone 3: Train Ride Experience — Board the Polar Express for the North Pole! The Train Ride Experience includes dancing chefs, hot chocolate and cookies, a reading of the story, a visit from Santa and a very special gift.
- Zone 4: North Pole — Enjoy the North Pole at your leisure, including photos with Santa, holiday crafts, s’mores, model train layouts, museum exhibits and more!
Event Map coming soon!
Candy Cane Café & S’mores Corner:
Food and beverages will be available at our holiday Candy Cane Café located in the North Pole. Purchase a S’mores Kit at the café and make your own holiday treat over the fire pits in the S’mores Corner! Light refreshments will also be available at the Concessions in the Welcome Depot prior to the show intro.
Café menu coming soon!
Please note: Concessions are not permitted during the show intro and train ride experience. The Candy Cane Café will remain open in the North Pole until 15 minutes before the Museum closes.
Neurodivergent/Sensory Access:
The B&O has developed an extensive list of resources for our Neurodivergent visitors to make the experience more predictable and comfortable.
RESOURCES TO HELP PREPARE FOR YOUR VISIT:
- Social Narrative for Children
- Social Narrative for Teens & Adults
- Visual Schedule Cards
- Sensory Map coming soon!
ON-SITE RESOURCES AT THE EVENT:
- Take Home Sensory Kits: Sensory kits will include various stimming objects, a sensory map, visual schedule cards, and earplugs. Kits can be picked up at Admissions during check-in or in the Roundhouse.
- Headphone Check-out: Full size headphones will be available for check-out at Admissions. Headphones should be returned to Admissions prior to exiting the North Car Shop.
- Sensory Station: A large tent will be set up in the Roundhouse to act as a quiet room. The Sensory Station will feature dim lighting, stimming furniture, soft landings, and be a Character Free Zone.
Detailed Accessibility FAQ coming soon!
For questions regarding event accessibility or accommodations please contact us at edu@borail.org.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The Polar Express™ is a fun family-friendly event for people of all ages, a special opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with friends and those you love.
Everyone age 2 and up must present a ticket for entrance into this event. We strongly suggest purchasing tickets in advance of arriving at the museum. The museum is closed to the public when The Polar Express™ is live. Memberships, coupons, complimentary passes, etc. may not be used for this event.
Visit here for more information on the types of tickets, dates for the experience, and price.
The time on your ticket is the time the doors will open and allow entry into the event. This is a timed entry event. Early entry is not available for this event. Early arrival may mean a short wait outdoors, please dress accordingly.
You may print your tickets or show the QR code on your phone when you enter. Without the QR code, we will need the ID and individual who purchased the tickets to be present.
Click here for directions to The Polar Express™ at the B&O Railroad Museum.
Yes, there is FREE off street on-site parking available at 1100 James Street, Baltimore, MD. Click here for Directions & Parking. Park and enter The Polar Express™ event beginning in the B&O Railroad Museum North Car Shop with your entire party.
Parking is free if you park in the lot mentioned above.
The Museum closes during The Polar Express™ event at the following times:
Nov. 29 & 30: 8:30 PM
Dec. 1: 7 PM
Dec. 6: 9:30 PM
Dec. 7 & 8: 8:30 PM
Dec. 12 & 13: 9:30 PM
Dec. 14: 5:30 PM
Dec. 15: 8:30 PM
Dec. 18-20: 9:30 PM
Dec. 21: 8:30 PM
Dec. 22: 7 PM
A concession tent will be located inside the entrance building allowing the purchase of snacks and drinks while waiting for the event to begin. In addition, the Candy Cane Café will be open in Bay 15 of the Roundhouse for your dining pleasure throughout the event. Please note outside food may not be brought into the museum.
For a list of ingredients in the cookies & hot chocolate being served on the train, please see here.
Please check back soon for this year’s Candy Cane Café menu!
Gold & Silver ticketholders will have assigned seating, Bronze coaches are assigned but have open seating. It is recommended those with Bronze tickets board with their whole party for the best chance of sitting together, though this cannot be guaranteed.
The train ride experience is approximately 45 minutes, the entire event is 2 hours. Visitors are encouraged to stay and continue to enjoy the Museum’s collection and exhibits.
This event is RAIN or SHINE. Please dress yourself and your family appropriately. In the event of winter weather, please visit the B&O Railroad Museum’s main webpage, borail.org, for any adjustments to the event schedule.
Absolutely! Guests are encouraged to capture their Polar Express™ memories.
Professional photos will be available for purchase once you reach your final destination, the “North Pole.” No purchase is necessary, but 5×7 prints will be available at a cost of $14 for the first print (5×7 or 4 wallets) and $7 for any additional prints. Digital images by email, $25, will also be available for anyone wanting to make their own prints or holiday cards. Digital images + 1 print package are $35. For more information contact Libelle Photo by emailing libellephotmd@gmail.com. You may take your own photos, too, but please be respectful of others so everyone has a chance to capture a special Polar Express™ memory.
Dress your family or group in holiday pajamas and wear them to The Polar Express™ for a chance to win a B&O Family Membership. A total of four (4) memberships will be given away between November 29 and December 22, 2024. Snap a photo of your family or group enjoying your experience, post it to Instagram or Facebook using hashtag #PjsAtPex to enter the photo contest.
Strollers are not recommended for this event however, the B&O Railroad Museum will provide a designated stroller check upon your entrance into the event. Strollers may be retrieved at Santa’s baggage claim in the Roundhouse following your train ride. Please note, there is no room for strollers or child seats beyond the entrance.
We love your furry friends as much as you do, but please leave them home during this event.
The museum is handicap accessible and ADA compliant. Please purchase Bronze tickets for The Polar Express™ train ride. Priority boarding will allow you to get settled on the train with the first group of visitors.
At check-in you will receive the autographed The Polar Express books. To ride the Santa Sleigh ride at the “North Pole,” please present the same QR code you used for entry at the ride. S’mores kits can be retrieved at The Polar Express Gift Shop located in the “North Pole”—again, just present your QR code.
Have more questions?
Please contact us through the form below.
