Treat dad to a trolley ride this Father's Day
Father's Day is at hand Sunday, June 21, and the Fox River Trolley Museum wants to give him the chance to take a ride into the past for free!
The museum, at 361 S. LaFox St. (Route 31) in the village of South Elgin, is offering dad, stepdad, granddad and even great-granddad a free ride, one day only, with a paid child's fare.
Bring a picnic lunch and make it a Sunday family outing! The museum has picnic tables at the north end of its line, Castlemuir Station, steps away from its life-size exhibits, which include two generations of Chicago 'L' cars, interurban (intercity) trains that used to operate between Chicago and Milwaukee, Chicago and South Bend, and Chicago and the Fox Valley. At the south end of the line, trains terminate in the picnic grove of the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve. Riders can hike the trails free and take a late-afternoon train back to Castlemuir and the museum parking lot.
Fares won't break the bank - $4 for other adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children ages 3-11. Kids under age 3 ride free.
Father's Day is only one of a series of upcoming special events at the museum.
• Red, White and Blue Bargain Day, July 4. All riders pay just $2, this day only, as the museum marks America's 237th birthday and the 47th anniversary of the museum's first public operations.
• Trolleyfest, Aug. 15-16, and the village of South Elgin's Riverfest Express, Aug. 13-16. It's two great celebrations, and one great time! Riverfest Express features food, music, carnival rides, fun and fireworks; the museum's historic trolley cars operate from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Aug. 15 and 16 only.
• The Pumpkin Trolley, Oct. 17-18, 24-25. Indian summer reigns supreme at the museum, as riders get the chance to ride a Fox River Line trolley to the Pumpkin Patch at Coleman Yard and take a pumpkin home; all children receive a small treat! Pumpkin tickets are $2 extra.
In addition to those special events, there are two that require advance reservations. Reserve two seats or bring a group, but seats sell out well in advance, so place your reservation early.
The Halloween Ghost Story Train, Oct. 17 and 24. Each evening at 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m., the reserved-seating, extra-fare, Ghost Story trains entertain children, their daddies, mummies and even grandmummies! Those who dare can experience a campfire, hot chocolate and s'mores along the shores of the Fox, and will hear ghoulishly delightful ghost tales. Order tickets online at www.foxtrolley.org.
Tickets for the museum's popular Polar Express runs have sold out for the 2015 season. Tickets will go on sale for the 2016 Polar Express cycle June 1, 2016.