The holidays are upon us and that means another season of family fun, merriment, and magic. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Journey to the North Pole™ is a unique experience for the whole family. Hop aboard the train at Hobo Railroad in Lincoln and enjoy the two-hour adventure to Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole.
Created 25 years ago in North Conway as a way to bring more visitors to the town during the slow season between the leaf peepers and the skiers, Journey to the North Pole™ has grown so popular in the past decade, that the show now operates both in North Conway and Lincoln. In 1995, the first Journey to the North Pole™ raised money for the NH Council on Literary. As the event grew and raised even more money, it was time to start a local non-profit organization. Eventually, the Believe in Books Literacy Foundation (BIBLF) was created and over $2 million has been gifted through literacy programs, scholarships, grants and book distributions in New Hampshire and Western Maine.
The Journey to the North Pole™, while geared towards elementary school-aged children, is fun for the whole family. Families will arrive at the Hobo Railroad where they’ll be handed a big golden ticket to board the holiday-themed train. On train Chefs will give you hot cocoa and some of Mrs. Claus’s homemade peppermint nougat candy. After about 10-15 minutes on the train, you’ll disembark at the North Pole!
Kids can visit the North Pole Print Shop and will be able to mail a letter directly to Santa at the Post Office. Once all the children have dropped their letters to Santa in the box, everyone will gather in Santa’s Workshop where you’ll see a dramatic reading of the classic poem “The Night Before Christmas,” by Clement Clark Moore Santa will visit and greet every child while the elves sing holiday carols in the background. On the return trip back to Lincoln, each child will receive a special bell to remember their Journey to the North Pole™.
Just like any non-profit event, it takes a village to put on the show. All of Santa’s elves and on train chefs are local community volunteers and there is always room for more! All net proceeds from the Journey to the North Pole™ fund literacy programs for the Believe in Books Literacy Foundation. Throughout the year, BIBLF offers many children’s theater programs in Intervale, including Earth Day with the Lorax, and visits with local preschools, delivering brand new books to students, including those in the Lincoln area. During the summer months, you’ll also see the Bookmobile at the Hobo Railroad for Storybook Sundays.
The Journey to the North Pole™ has two shows on Friday through Sunday evenings from November 29 through December 23, 2019. Tickets can be purchased online or by phone at (603) 356-9980. You can also purchase tickets and lodging packages at the Indian Head Resort, The Lodge at Lincoln Station, Mountain View Grand Resort, and Thayer’s Inn. Tickets, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, often sell out weeks in advance, so book your tickets early and don’t miss their unique White Mountains event.
Celebrate the magic of the holidays this December in Lincoln with the Journey to the North Pole™. Your kids will remember it for years to come.
For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov
