The Polar Express Train Ride in Batesville
12.03.2015
Batesville, MS Announces First Time Service to The North Pole Onboard
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
Batesville, MS., 2015 – For the first time ever, Batesville, M.S. will begin service to the North Pole onboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride starting Nov. 20, 2015. The magical story comes to life when the train departs Batesville for a one hour round-trip journey to the North Pole.
Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the story as they are whisked away on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. Once onboard, cheerful, dancing elves serve passengers hot chocolate and cookies while they read along with the classic children’s book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. Santa and his helpers greet passengers at the North Pole and then board the train, where each child is given the first gift of Christmas – a silver sleigh bell. Chefs aboard each car lead passengers in singing Christmas carols on the ride back to Batesville.
In response to overwhelming demand for tickets to experience the inaugural season of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Batesville, M.S., Diamond and First Class tickets have been added and are now on sale. Standard Class tickets also remain and are selling at a record-breaking pace for any first-year introduction of rail service to the North Pole.
“Families throughout Mississippi and Tennessee are eagerly gearing up for the holidays and we are thrilled at the reception THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride is receiving from the entire region,” shares Angela Lane, vice president of sales and marketing for the Premier Rail Collection. “Over half of our tickets for the inaugural season are reserved as we prepare for the Nov. 20 debut.”
THE POLAR EXPRESS ™ Train Ride in Batesville, M.S. is celebrating the season of giving by partnering with star forward for the Memphis Grizzlies Zach Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies to present Memphis-area children and their families with 100 tickets to ride the December 5 departure.
“As a part of the community here in the Memphis area, we fully support the mission of the Memphis Grizzlies in giving back to children over the holiday season,” stated Angela Lane, vice president of sales & marketing for Premier Rail Collection. “We are excited to work with Zach to present children and their families with a memorable experience that will forever been cherished for years to come.”
Randolph will present children at Memphis-area Boys & Girls Clubs with 100 tickets for the 1:00 p.m. departure to experience with their loved ones. One lucky child selected by Randolph will also be given the opportunity to take on the responsibilities of Junior Conductor – shouting “ALL ABOARD” and commencing the magical train ride.
“We are proud to have Zach partner with the area’s newest iconic holiday excursion, The Polar Express Train Ride,” said Diane Terrell, vice president community engagement and executive director of the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation. “We appreciate the Batesville Polar Express Train Ride supporting our team, players and the youth in the Memphis region.”
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride operates on select dates through Dec. 27, 2015, with departure times at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Exact dates, fares and excursion times are available by visiting www.GrenadaPolarExpressRide.com or calling 877-334-4783. Ticket prices range from $20 to $85 depending on class of service and date of travel. Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride.
Please see below for a link to high res. images of the POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fvt2oxdjxd88fhy/AAC3mx2bKwe-licyv42m1Xx5a?dl=0
Recent coverage of the Batesville POLAR EXPRESS:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/business/non-profits/Polar-Express-teams-with-Grizzlies-on-ticket-donation-359586811.html
http://www.commercialappeal.com/business/polar-express-christmas-train-part-of-expanded-rail-plan-ep-1253408193-327931661.html
https://www.grenadapolarexpressride.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PolarExpressMississippi
THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Based on THE POLAR EXPRESS book and characters TM & © 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
Official THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Rides are licensed by Rail Events, Inc. on behalf of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc. Since 2005, Rail Events, Inc. has held the exclusive license to operate THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Rides in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
THE POLAR EXPRESS Film
The Academy Award winning team of Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunite for THE POLAR EXPRESS, an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Sony Pictures Imageworks and visual effects supervisor Ken Ralston, Oscar winners for their innovative work, help bring the story vividly to the screen in full CG animation through Imageworks’ next-generation motion capture process that allows live-action performances to drive the emotions and movements of the digital characters. Warner Home Video will once again offer THE POLAR EXPRESS in standard-definition, Blu-ray and 3D DVD versions this holiday season.
THE POLAR EXPRESS Book
THE POLAR EXPRESS film is based on Chris Van Allburg’s classic Christmas picture book, which tells the story of a boy who takes a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. First published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1985, The Polar Express became an instant family favorite and has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. In 1986 it won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for Illustration.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About Rail Events Inc.
Rail Events Inc. is the industry leader in rail-related special events management. In 2014, we hosted over 850,000 guests at 50 licensed events with 45 partner railroads in the US, Canada, and the UK. Rail Events Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Heritage Railways, which is the premier operator of heritage railroads in the United States.
Media Contacts:
Mike Hicks / Skelly Stevens / Charlotte Park
LOU HAMMOND & ASSOCIATES
561-655-3836 / 843-408-4398 / 843-371-1362
