The Polar Express

Our Polar Express pajama matinee has quickly become a Marietta family tradition! Come aboard the Polar Express, a magical train heading to the North Pole. Tom Hanks stars as the conductor—as well as five other roles! This beloved movie is based on the award-winning storybook written by Chris Van Allsburg, this Christmas story tells of a boy who has reached an age when his belief in Santa is beginning to falter.

The young and young-at-heart are encouraged to come dressed in Christmas pajamas and enjoy the show. Santa will be on hand to hear Christmas wishes, and true to the Polar Express experience, hot chocolate and cookies will be available, too.

Late one Christmas Eve, a young boy is lying awake waiting for the sound of sleigh bells ringing from Santa’s sleigh. Five minutes to midnight his room begins to shake, and he hears a thunderous sound outside his window. The boy jumps from his bed and sees a train in the middle of his street. The boy grabs his robe and rushes out the front door to look at the train. The train’s conductor asks the boy if he is getting aboard. The boy asks, ‘Where are you going?’ ‘To the North Pole, of course. This is the Polar Express!’ replies the conductor. At the last minute, the boy jumps on the train and finds other young boys and girls going to the North Pole. Their adventure begins. On the train he meets more children, among them a know-it-all, a clever girl and a poor boy. During the trip to the North Pole, there are several complications before the end of the journey comes. When they reach the North Pole, the children meet Santa Claus, and the boy gets the very first Christmas present of the year—a sleigh bell from Santa’s sleigh. They return safely to their homes in time for Christmas Day, and the boy finds the Christmas present from Santa beneath his tree.