The North Pole Express took off for the first time this year last Saturday, but has two more runs scheduled for this weekend.
Volunteer Jeff Newton said the free Christmas-themed attraction, located on Frontage Road, will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14.
The Nightmares Haunted House bus is repurposed into a train and a winter wonderland is built up in the same space as the haunted house, meaning volunteers get to work barely a week after the October show wraps up.
This one is free, he said, because it's focused on the kids -- many of whom are too young to enjoy the other show -- and provides a chance to give something back to a community that supports the haunted house and helps raise money for charity each year.
"It's all about the kids," he said.
After traversing the winter wonderland, families get to visit Santa's workshop, enjoy warm cookies and hot chocolate, and take a picture with Santa Claus himself.
It takes about 15 volunteers to put the show together, he said, with 10 of them working to convert the haunted house.
One volunteer, Kimi Henley, was posing as a storyteller in Santa's workshop, offering to read stories while kids waited in line.
The show has gotten better each year, she said, and all the actors have a blast.
"We absolutely love doing this," she said.
Angela Johnson said this was the second year she's brought her family.
"We've loved it every year," she said."It's just a wonderful experience."
Amy Bailey, another of the parents in attendance, said she was very impressed.
Bailey said she really appreciated all the volunteers building this show for children to enjoy.
"It's amazing, it's wonderful our community does something like this for the kids," she said.
General News on 12/11/2019