Around 75 children and their families took a train from Franklin Park to the North Pole — better known as Elgin to their parents — on Saturday.
Children heard carols by the Leyden Chamber Choir, the story of the Polar Express, Christmas trivia, ate chocolate cookies and milk and got a chance to meet and greet Santa.
For at least one 4-year-old, however, Santa was old news, said Phyllis Schmidt, program manager for the Park District of Franklin Park.
“One of the children was in Las Vegas last week for five days,” said Schmidt. “When Santa approached him, he said, ‘Hey Santa, I saw you in Vegas last week.'”
The Park District started the Polar Express rides in 2002. Since then, they’ve expanded to rides on three consecutive Saturdays prior to Christmas.