Tickets on sale for North Fork Trolley's annual Polar Express

It may be sweltering outside, but it’s time to think about Christmas. Tickets are on sale now for the annual North Fork Trolley Polar Express rides in November and December.

This is the seventh year that the North Fork Trolley is offering the ride inspired by the iconic “Polar Express” film and award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg. There will be acting, live singing and dancing by characters in the story of a boy, who, while in his pajamas on Christmas Eve, uses a golden ticket to travel by Polar Express train to the North Pole to visit Santa.

This year, when participants arrive at the North Pole, they will be seated and four to six chefs will dance up and down the aisles balancing hot chocolate and cookies. The hobo, normally outside sitting at a campfire, will perform a monologue indoors. Children will have the opportunity to get a personal visit with Santa.

North Fork Express rides between Nov. 29 and Dec. 23. Fare is $57 per person; riders must be at least 2 years old. For more information, call North Fork Trolley at 631-369-3031. To order tickets, visit northforktrolley.com.

By Beth Whitehouse

beth.whitehouse@newsday.comBethWhitehouse1

Beth Whitehouse writes about families, parenting and great things to do with the kids on Long Island. She’s been a Newsday editor and shared a 1997 Newsday staff Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the crash of TWA Flight 800.