Program teaches lessons
Santa’s Magical Express running
RENSSELAER, N.Y. » For the past six years, children have been able to celebrate the holiday season by getting a seat on Yankee Trails Santa’s Magical Express.
Yankee Trails, Market 32 by Price Chopper and Garelick Farms all help to make the 90-minute production and motor coach ride that teaches children how to work together as a team to overcome bullying while on a quest to save Christmas.
From Nov. 24 to Dec. 23, Capital Region families are able to celebrate the holiday season with up to eight shows a night.
The Santa’s Magical Express interactive show and local bus ride puts everyone into the holiday spirit by embarking on a special journey to help Santa save Christmas from the sneaky Jack Frost.
From taking pictures with Santa, to chasing down favorite holiday characters like Frosty the Snowman and Ebenezer Scrooge, the 90-minute event includes stops at Market 32 by Price Chopper for milk and cookies and Garelick Farms to pick up Santa. Families are also treated to light displays donated by Albany Police Athletic League Capital Lights in the Park. Kids are also able to tell Santa Claus about some of their Christmas wish list items, or they can write Santa a wish list letter during the program.
The idea of Santa’s Magical Express was actually started by Erin Tobin, co-owner of Yankee Trails, about 8 years ago when she decided to write a book first about Santa’s magical express.
“It came about probably about 8 years ago. My dad started this business 60 years ago, so I’ve grown up with busses my whole life. I went to school as an English major and I had dreams of being a writer,” said Tobin. “I have 13 nieces and nephews, so I just kind of thought of a story that could incorporate the busses and a story that we could read to kids.”
Tobin said the book that she wrote received a lot of positive feedback quickly and then two years later, Tobin’s brother suggested that they try to make the book into a production.
“We’ve never done anything like that before. I mean we’re creative but we’re not that creative, so we had a lot of help,” said Tobin.
Tobin said that she wanted to incorporate lessons on how to help kids overcome bullying during Santa’s Magical Express since bullying has hit close to home for Tobin during her childhood.
“I was a tomboy my whole life and I was bullied and I’m sure I bullied other people,” said Tobin. “It’s just something that especially with my nieces and nephews that I saw happening and I just thought it was a nice thing to kind of incorporate people to be nicer to one another. It might sound cliché, but that message especially young kids can go so far. Our cast members do a really good job to try to reach the kids with that message.”
Tickets for children 12 and younger are $24 with online reservations (Reg. $29) and adults are $29 (Reg. $34) Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Saturday tickets for children 12 and younger are $34 with online reservations ( Reg. $39) and adults are $39 ( Reg. $44). Children attending Saturday performances receive a free toy bus and children’s book.
For a full listing of show times, more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.santasmagicalexpress.com or call (518) 286-1804.