Overview:
V&T Railway is seeking local nonprofit youth groups to join The Polar Express Train Ride as North Pole Elves this holiday season in Carson City. Participating groups can earn $100 per performance night while helping bring the holiday experience to life for families across Northern Nevada.
The Virginia & Truckee Railway is inviting local nonprofit youth groups to become part of the magic of The Polar Express Train Ride in Carson City this holiday season.
Each year, families aboard The Polar Express Train Ride journey toward the North Pole for a festive holiday experience featuring hot chocolate, treats, and a visit with Santa. Now, V&T Railway is seeking energetic young participants to help welcome guests and bring the North Pole to life during the 2026 production.
The opportunity is open to nonprofit youth organizations, including youth clubs, sports teams, church groups, and student councils interested in fundraising while participating in a community holiday tradition.
Participating groups must provide 10 to 15 youth members ages 8 and older, along with two adult chaperones. Each group will receive an honorarium of $100 per performance night.
Available Performance Dates
The currently listed dates include Nov. 22, Dec. 3, Dec. 6, Dec. 17, Dec. 20 and Dec. 23, with one additional November date requiring confirmation.
Groups interested in participating are encouraged to contact Carla Wilson, Production Director, at polarexpressdirector@gmail.com for additional information and to discuss date availability.
By bringing local youth organizations into the production, V&T Railway hopes to create opportunities for community involvement while helping deliver a festive holiday experience for families throughout Northern Nevada.
About The Polar Express Train Ride
Official The Polar Express Train Rides are licensed by Rail Events Inc. on behalf of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences (WBDGE) since 2007, Rail Events Inc. has held an exclusive license to operate The Polar Express Train Rides in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.
About THE POLAR EXPRESS Book
THE POLAR EXPRESS film is based on Chris Van Allsburg’s classic Christmas picture book, which tells the story of a boy who takes a magical Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa. First published by the Houghton Mifflin Company in 1985, The Polar Express became an instant family favorite and has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide. In 1986 it won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for Illustration.
About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences (WBDGE) is a worldwide leader in the creation, development, licensing and operating of location-based entertainment based on the biggest franchises, stories, and characters from Warner Bros.’ world-renowned film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, Cartoon Network and more. WBDGE is home to the groundbreaking locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks around the world, award-winning Warner Bros. Studio Tour locations in London, Hollywood, and Tokyo, the iconic Harry Potter New York flagship store, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, The WB Abu Dhabi, The FRIENDS Experience, The Game of Thrones Studio Tour and countless other experiences inspired by Harry Potter, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones, FRIENDS and more. WBDGE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Revenue & Strategy division.
About Rail Events Inc.
Rail Events Inc. is the industry leader in rail-related special events management. In 2025, the company licensed events that hosted nearly 1.8 million guests at 58 partner railroads in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. Rail Events Inc. and Rail Events Productions are wholly owned subsidiaries of American Heritage Railways, which is the premier operator of heritage railroads in the United States.
About the V&T Railway Commission
Forged in the heat of Nevada’s silver boom, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad Co. began operations in 1869 as the link between the Comstock Lode mines and the outside world. Known as the “Queen of the Short Lines,” these trains carried ore, freight, and passengers — everything a growing frontier town needed.
When the last original train rolled in 1950, these rails could have fallen silent forever. But they didn’t. Thanks to decades of tireless work by train enthusiasts, state agencies, historians, and community members, V&T Railway was brought back to life piece by piece. Locomotives were restored, track was rebuilt, and history was preserved in the hopes coming generations would continue to create stories that stood the test of time.
