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Date: 11/30/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – The holiday spirit will pull into the Depot at Graham Central Station, as The Polar Express welcomes families. Originally slated for Dec. 3, the event was postponed to Dec. 4 due to forecasted inclement weather.
Taking inspiration from the 1985 Caldecott Medal-winning book, “The Polar Express,” and the subsequent 2004 animated movie by the same title, the event at The Depot at Graham Central Station will include five-minute train rides to “Santa’s Workshop,” as well as games, food and seasonal beverages.
Manager Bailey Deutsch said the holiday event last year was themed around the story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” by Dr. Seuss. This year, fellow manager Amy Oliver said, “We’re trying to play off the train theme.”
Each train ride can hold 10 to 15 passengers. Tickets are sold in hourly increments and can be purchased at the Depot or online by following a link at https://www.facebook.com/grahamcentralstationEL. More than 300 tickets had already been sold as of press time and Deutsch said she expects to have up to 500 tickets sold by the end of the event. “We’re really excited,” she commented.
The addition of the Polar Express event is one of many changes at The Depot at Graham Central Station. The business, which began in April 2021, specialized in selling ice cream. Since then, it has grown into what Oliver described as “a new and improved Depot café.” The business offers coffee and other beverages, breakfast sandwiches, lunch and, of course, ice cream.
Along with the expanded menu, the Depot at Graham Central Station is now open year-round. The hours have changed to Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Depot at Graham Central Station is located at 64 Maple St., East Longmeadow.