Denver families, punch your golden tickets: THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride returns to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden for the 2026 holiday season, opening Friday, November 6 and running through Wednesday, December 23.
The magic starts before the train even moves. In the pavilion, families gather for a cabaret-style pre-show with the “Hot Chocolate” song and dance and a dramatic re-enactment of Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved story. Then comes the dramatic arrival of the train itself, and everyone climbs aboard vintage coaches for the ride to the North Pole.
On the return journey, Santa boards to give every passenger the First Gift of Christmas — a silver bell — and after the ride, children can visit Santa in his workshop and capture the moment with a photo. Performances begin at 5:00, 6:30 and 8:00 p.m., and the museum asks guests to arrive about 30 minutes early for the pre-show.
The train runs November 6–8, 13–15 and 20–24, then daily from November 27 to December 23, with a 10% discount on performances before Thanksgiving. The museum sits at 17155 W. 44th Avenue in Golden, an easy drive west of Denver — book ahead, because the happiest rides of the season fill fast.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
