Volunteers Make Polar Express Magical
As the last night of Polar Express Storytime falls quiet at the L&N Depot, we are reminded that this event is special not because of the decorations or the railcar itself, but because of the people who bring it to life each evening. The magic that families experience during Storytime does not happen on its own. It is created by a team of volunteers who show up night after night throughout December to make every moment feel unforgettable.
This year, our volunteers worked on the front lines of the experience. They greeted families in the grand lobby, welcomed excited children, checked guests in with a smile, and made the entire experience feel warm from the very first moment. They prepared hot chocolate, offered cookies as families arrived, and helped set the tone for each story session. Inside the railcar, volunteers read the book aloud, turned each page with care, and made the familiar words feel new again for every audience.
The roles vary, but each night they come together as one team. Some volunteers focus on hospitality, making sure every family feels comfortable as they enter the historic space. Others work to restock cookies, refill cocoa so each group has the same experience. A few of our volunteers stepped into the most unforgettable roles, appearing as Santa at the end of the story to the delight of children who had been waiting for that moment. And on select evenings, Christmas carolers volunteered their time to fill the Depot with music, creating a festive atmosphere before families ever stepped aboard.
Our Storytime conductors brought a special energy to the experience. With their caps, lanterns, and steady presence, they guided families from the lobby into the railcar, creating a sense of anticipation and wonder. They stood as representatives of the rail heritage we celebrate, connecting the historic setting to the story being told inside.
It takes a special kind of person to volunteer for an event that runs across so many evenings in December, especially when schedules are already full with shopping lists, family gatherings, school concerts, and work obligations. Yet each night, the volunteer team arrived with energy, kindness, and patience. They greeted every family with the same enthusiasm, even when it was late in the evening or the weather was cold outside.
Polar Express Storytime is not a single evening. It is the same program delivered many times across many nights, during the busiest season of the year. Volunteers offered their time to ensure that every family could enjoy a meaningful tradition. They worked together to make the experience seamless, joyful, and genuine.
As we look back on this year’s event, the images we will remember most are not just of Santa, warm cocoa, or pages turning in the book. They are the photos of volunteers in sweaters carrying trays of cookies through the lobby, conductors leading families toward the railcar under strings of lights, carolers singing while children watched with wide eyes, and a volunteer turning a page while the entire railcar listened in silence. These quiet moments represent the heart of the RailPark.
To every conductor, every reader, every page-turner, every Santa, every hot chocolate helper, every cookie volunteer, every check-in team member, and every person who came to sing: thank you. You created experience after experience, night after night, and made it feel as magical as the book promises.
The L&N Depot will rest quietly now, waiting for the next chapter of its centennial year. But the memory of this Polar Express season will stay with us, because it was written by the volunteers who turned each page, poured each cup, led each family, and helped everyone feel welcome.
The train may no longer run on these tracks, but the spirit of service does. And because of you, the story will continue.
