CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — What used to be known as the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's "Polar Express" is now the "North Pole Adventure." 

Tickets are on sale now for the family-friendly event, which will run between Nov. 5 and Dec. 19. 

What You Need To Know

  • Tickets are on sale now for the family-friendly event, which will run between Nov. 5 through Dec. 19

  • Passengers are encouraged to wear their best Christmas gear, sing Christmas carols and enjoy cookies and hot cocoa

  • Children can also write letters to Santa Claus
  • Patrons 12 and older will be required to present proof that they are fully vaccinated or provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours or a negative COVID-19 antigen test
  • Since CVSR CVSR falls under the jurisdiction of Transportation Security Administration (TSA), masks must be worn

The change was announced initially in August after challenges and feedback from the community.

“It was time for a change,” said CVSR President and CEO Joe Mazur in an August press release. “Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we had to cancel our Christmas Train last year. After several years of the same program, the cancelation last year, and listening to feedback from our community, we felt it was the right time to introduce North Pole Adventure.”

Some of the activities will be the same. Passengers are encouraged to wear their best Christmas gear, sing Christmas carols and enjoy cookies and hot cocoa. One activity they are bringing back is writing letters to Santa, which Mazur said was a big hit in 2019 and something families wished would come back. 

However, there will be COVID-19 protocols in place this year. According to the website, "Patrons 12 and older will be required to present proof that they are fully vaccinated or provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within six hours of their scheduled North Pole Adventure."

Passengers must also provide some form of ID, and the name on the ID must match the name on the test or vaccination card. Masks must also be worn. 

"The children enjoyed it and we knew they wanted the opportunity to deliver letters to Santa – now they can," Mazur said in the press release. 

Tickets for the "North Pole Adventure" can be bought either for the Akron or Rockside stations. 

The ride will take families around the park to enjoy the scenery with the destination being the North Pole. According to CVSR, Santa Claus himself may board the train to greet children. 

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