As moms and caregivers, we’re the ones who help make the holiday magic happen for our kids, and one great way to do that locally is through the North Pole Express at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture.
Every year, the GMA hosts their North Pole Express event for families to have a chance to ride the train, enjoy a reading of the book, The Polar Express, get a photo with Santa, and enjoy some cookies and hot chocolate.
“A lot of times, when you visit Santa, it’s like herding cattle through, and you stand in line for an hour plus,” said Garrett Boone, Director of the Georgia Museum of Agriculture. “You have a few minutes with Santa, and then off you go. We wanted to change that experience, so that’s how we landed where we’re at. There’s a picture opportunity with Santa, but it’s very low key and relaxed compared to most visits with Santa.”
In addition to the more relaxed Santa photo opportunity, Boone said the team at the GMA works really hard to make the event feel warm and inviting with lots of little details. From the fire burning when families get there to the cookie smell in the costume shop to the real tree and a realistic looking Santa, the staff at the GMA wants this to be a memorable and fun event for families in the Tifton area and beyond.
The event takes inspiration from the book and movie “The Polar Express,” but each year, the staff work hard to create a new theme and a fresh take on the classic.
“Kids know the book and have seen the movie,” said Boone. “We’ve taken parts and pieces from that, so it’s something familiar. They know what’s going on, and they get it. We try to keep those parts and pieces the same, but we tweak it a little bit each year to keep it fresh and exciting for those families who come back year after year.
This year, there will be eight nights (December 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th) for the North Pole Express due to the growth of the event in recent years.
More additions this year will be local food trucks on site to make it easier for families to get dinner without affecting their time slot and a custom Christmas light show for families to enjoy.
This year, advance tickets will be offered at the GMA’s Country Store’s Holiday Open House on Saturday, November 8th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm with a purchase from the Country Store. In addition to the advance ticket options with your purchase, you can also enjoy 25% off your purchase, a chance at exciting door prizes, refreshments, and more, making it a great way to get a jump start on your holiday shopping locally.
“During the open house, if you purchase something, you will have the option to do advance tickets,” said Allen Saylor, Assistant Vice President for Information Technology and Auxiliary Services at ABAC. “We had a ton of people who always asked for advance tickets, and so we thought an event like this would be a great way to offer that and showcase all the Christmas stuff the country store has in stock during the holiday season.”
After the Holiday Open House advance ticket option, tickets will open up for everyone online.
“The good thing about this event is it’s become a tradition for many people,” said Boone. “We’ve been doing it for quite a few years, and it’s a tradition for many families, especially families with multiple children. You look forward to the next little one that gets to experience it.”
And while the North Pole Express is a great local option for some magical Christmas memories, the GMA has a lot to offer moms and families outside of the Christmas season.
Whether you are looking for something to do on a weekend, somewhere to take the kids for a snack and a place to play after school, a special event, or even a homeschool or traditional school field trip, the Georgia Museum of Agriculture is a great option.
“One of the good things about the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and is you can spend as little or as long as you want to,” said Boone. “If you just want a quick outing to get out of the house with the kids, you can run up to the museum, play on the playground, buy some ice cream, maybe go through Spinks Exhibit Hall if it’s hot out, and spend an hour. Or, if you are looking for a longer outing there is plenty to see and do that will keep all ages of visitors entertained for hours.”
In addition to the North Pole Express, the GMA and ABAC also have several other events coming up, including:
- Museum After Dark Series: Plein Air Painting Workshop on November 8th
- ABAC Rodeo November 14th and 15th
- Cane Grinding and Syrup Cooking on November 15th
- VW Bus Quilt Exhibit and VW Bus Exhibit opening January 17th
- Museum After Dark Series: Tall Tales Storytelling on February 28th
- Museum After Dark Series: Portrait Drawing Class on March 21st
- Folklife Festival on April 4th
- American Legacy Quilt Show April 3rd-4th
- Museum After Dark Series: Swamp Gravy on May 2nd
It is always free to play on the Country Store Playground, which is open from 1:00-5:00 pm on Tuesdays and 9:00 am-5:00 pm Wednesday-Saturday. They also offer after school specials on drinks and snacks from 3:00-5:00 pm, and they have public restrooms close to the playground, making it a great place to stop after picking the kids up from school.
Admission to the Historic Village, Spinks Exhibit Hall, and Gallery during the week is $10 for adults and $8 for kids aged 4-15. Kids three and under are free. Admission on Saturdays, which includes riding the Vulcan Steam Train, is $12 for adults and $9 for kids aged 4-15, with kids three and under free. You can learn more about the GMA’s admission and hours here. To learn more about the GMA and what their special events, you can follow them on Facebook here.
Tifton Moms is a resource dedicated to the moms and families of Tifton, Georgia and beyond to help them find the information they need about events in Tifton and Southwest Georgia, resources in Tifton and beyond, educational tips, and so much more. We are passionate about all things parenting and our community, and we want to connect you to relevant resources, local businesses, can’t-miss events, and each other! Find more helpful articles at https://tiftonmoms.com/blog/.
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