Santa Special Elf Academy

Dream, Believe, Discover

All aboard the Santa Special for a one-of-a-kind, daytime holiday experience!  Enjoy the spirit of the season as you relax with family and friends aboard festive railway cars adorned with vintage decorations.  Make sure you’re camera-ready for that “special moment” when Santa and Mrs. Claus visit each child.

You are cordially invited to “enroll in” The 2019 Santa Special, Elf Academy!

Do you like eating cookies, playing with toys, singing silly songs, making funny sounds, the color green, the color red, building snowmen, licking candy canes, feeding reindeer, and drinking cocoa?

It sounds like you have EXACTLY what it takes to be one of Santa’s Elves!

Elves have very specific qualifications when working for the Claus Family, and we are ready to groom the next batch of silly, sparkly, giggly, fidgety, lovey, happy-go-lucky ambassadors of joy!

You don’t need to live at the North Pole to be one of Santa’s elves, you know! He needs them all year-round, all over the world, helping him to keep the Christmas Spirit alive while he is working hard at the North Pole. Ol’ Kris Kringle asked us to start an Elf Academy to help him train as many new elves as we can this year, to help spread kindness everywhere they go – and we accepted!

We can’t wait to meet the newest batch of elves in training, and help guide them to becoming Santa’s favorite helpers, so be sure to join us for this daytime holiday adventure for the whole family! This is going to be so much fun!!!

  • Reindeer, Pablo the Penguin, and other characters will be at Essex Station to spread holiday cheer.
  • Each child will receive a small holiday gift from Santa’s Elves aboard the train!

Before or after your excursion, stop by River Valley Junction; whether you’re naughty or nice, this is where you’ll find an assortment of activities for every age!

  • Take your family pictures in Santa’s sleigh
  • Enjoy musical performances by Sunny Train!
  • Indulge yourself with freshly baked cookies & other goodies from the Kringle Kitchen.

Ticket Information

Ticket On Sale Dates for Santa Special – follow us on Facebook to stay informed

2019 Full Car On Sale Date 10/1/19: Full Coach Car (60 seats) / Full First Class Cars (20, 32, 36 seats) by phone only (860-767-0103 / 800-377-3987)

2019 On Sale Date 10/2/19 : Individual First Class tickets online ONLY (www.essexsteamtrain.com) at 9:00 a.m.

2019 On Sale Date 10/2/19 : Individual Coach tickets online ONLY (www.essexsteamtrain.com) at 9:00 a.m.

2019 Santa Special will be operating on the following schedule:

Fri-Sat-Sun Nov. 29, 30, Dec 1  •  Sat & Sun Dec 7-8 •  Sat & Sun Dec 14-15

Sat & Sun Dec 21-22 •  Mon Dec. 23

Santa Special Departure Times:

9:30 am, 10 am, 11 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1 pm

*** The 10 am, 11: 30 am, 1 pm do not operate on Sunday December 1, 2019

2019 Santa Special Ticket Prices

Coach Tickets Price $26

Padded Bench Seating

First Class Car Price $40

Individual armchair seats with cash beverage service