Naperville's Santa Train tickets go on sale Saturday
A quick chat with a Naperville newsmaker
With visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads, hundreds of children with parents in tow will board Naperville's Santa Train Dec. 1 for a memorable holiday treat.
The popular one-hour ride aboard special Metra trains ushers in the Christmas season for many area families.
The Naperville Jaycees sponsor the trip, which always features a visit with the inimitable Santa Claus.
Tickets are $15 and go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at Fifth Avenue Station, 200 E. 5th Ave. A word of caution: it's not unusual for lines to form early and tickets usually go quickly.
Chairman Jason Evans answers questions about what parents can expect.
Q. What happens on the Santa Train?
A. Each child is given a goodie bag. Santa comes to visit, poses for some quick photos and talks to the children. We also have clowns. Our volunteers will sing carols with the kids, ask them Christmas questions and entertain.
There isn't as much time to talk to Santa as you would have at a store where you sit on his lap, but he does want to talk with each child as he walks through the train. There will be ample time with Santa.
Q. How many tickets are available?
A. There are two trains with 10 cars each; we sell 2,000 tickets for the day.
Q. What age group do you cater to?
A. The primary age is probably 18 months through 6 years. We also will have older siblings come, too.
Q. When do people line up to buy tickets?
A. The tickets are a pretty hot item and we will sell about 75 percent of them on Saturday. People start lining up around 8 a.m. for the ticket sale that starts at 9 a.m. and runs until noon.
Any remaining tickets will be sold starting Wednesday morning at Right Start on Jefferson Avenue in downtown Naperville. If any tickets remain, those will be sold the day-of-the-event, which is hit or miss. Some years we have a few to sell at the trains and other years it is a complete sellout prior to the event.
Q. Where does the train go?
A. The one-hour trip goes to Brookfield, where it switches tracks for the return ride.
Q. How has the Santa Train changed the last few years?
A. We make little modifications each year to try to change it up for the kids. We also tweak things to add and change when we find something that works better.
Q. What part do you play?
A. I will be on the trains to make sure everything is running smoothly and doing any last-minute details.
Q. Do you need volunteers?
A. We have people through the Naperville Jaycees and some of our corporate offices that help out. We also have high school volunteers through the Naperville REACH program and others from Aurora, who really enjoy helping out each year. We have general guidelines volunteers receive before the event, and on the day of the event we meet to finalize things.
Q. Is the train handicap accessible?
A. Yes, there is one car on each train that is handicap accessible. There will be a sign where we sell the tickets that will let people know that there is a certain train ticket people will be able to purchase.
Q. If your good friends were coming with their family, what advice would you give them?
A. Get to the train station early because there will be a lot of people there. This way you can get on the train and get the seats you want. We are working with a radio station that will be out there in a tent playing Christmas music, giving away prizes and goodies while people wait for the train. It will be fun.
Q. What should someone new to the experience bring?
A. Bring hats and gloves. The train station is not the largest and there will be some time where you will wait outside for the train to arrive. Other than that, wear your Christmas clothes and a smile.
Q. Where do proceeds go?
A. Proceeds go to our Jaycees donations fund that benefits local organizations.
Q. Is there a warm, fuzzy moment involving the trains you want to share with readers?
A. Last year, my own two little girls went on the train and I remember seeing their faces as they got off the train at the end. They talked about talking to Santa and seeing the clowns. Seeing the sheer enjoyment on their faces is the reason I wanted to run the event this year. To me, it is a special event for children.
-- Joan Broz
If you go
What: Naperville Jaycees Santa Train
When: 10 a.m. and noon Dec. 1
Where: Naperville's downtown train station
Tickets: Purchase $15 tickets from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Fifth Avenue Station, 200 E. 5th Ave.; remaining tickets available at Right Start beginning Wednesday and day of event at the Metra station if any remain
Info: naperjaycees.org