Trolley museum sets holiday-themed events
Rides with Santa will be offered starting Nov. 28.
Even though Halloween has just passed and the rest of the holidays seem far away, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington is gearing up for its annual Santa Trolley event.
Visitors can meet with Santa from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 28-30, Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21.
“This event sells out early every year,” said Jeanine L. DeBor, J.D., executive director and CEO. “It is also an event for the whole family that I enjoy every year.”
Admission to the museum on these dates requires the purchase of special tickets for $25 per person. Children ages 2 and younger ride free and must sit in an adult’s lap.
This year’s event is sponsored by Washington Financial Charitable Foundation, and tickets include a second festive trolley ride aboard the Yuletide Shuttle.
Since the event is so popular, the museum recommends ticket purchases be made online in advance due to limited seating.
Families can meet Santa Claus, chat with him on their journey and take a picture with him before the ride concludes. There will also be hot chocolate and cookies.
Visitors can stop by the museum’s large Lionel toy train layout and view the Lego layout built by Steel City LUG, Pittsburgh Area’s Adult Lego User Group.
The trolley display building will be open during Santa Trolley as well, so visitors can explore the rest of the streetcar collection and the Festival of Trees, which is a display from the museum’s community partners.
Farmhouse Kitchen and Bakery will be on-site each day of Santa Trolley offering a selection of coffee and pastries.
A new addition this year is the sensory friendly Santa Trolley, enabling those with sensitivities to have a less overwhelming experience. The two sensory rides are at 8:55 a.m. and 9:10 a.m. Nov. 30.
Accommodations such as dimmer lights and quieter sound, as well as a lower passenger count on the trolleys will help prevent overstimulation.
“Passengers may borrow sensory-friendly bags equipped with fidget toys and noise-canceling headphones,” a press release from the museum states. “Staff acting as trolley conductors, Santa’s elves, and the jolly old man himself have completed training on how to make visits as safe and enjoyable as possible for neurodivergent visitors.”
Also during December, the museum will host its Trolleys and Toy Trains event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
Visitors to this event will be able to ride on their decorated trolleys and view the toy train layouts. Trolleys and Toy Trains are included with museum admission, consisting of access to interactive exhibits and unlimited rides on the trolleys, and should be purchased in person.
The museum will be open Dec. 26-28. For more information or tickets, call the museum at 724-228-9256 or visit www.patrolley.org.
