Polar Express rolls into Alameda Park
The Junior Women's Club of Butler invited the people of Butler to take a magical train ride.
The General Federation of Women's Club Junior Women's Club of Butler held a Christmas event for families at Alameda Park on Saturday evening. As co-heads of the club's art's committee, Shannon McCarren and Dana Summerville decided to adapt the popular children's book, the Polar Express, into a live interactive event.
“The story of the Polar Express is familiar, inspires hope, examines self-discovery, and encourages us to never lose our childlike sense of wonder,” McCarren said. “We thought it would be a great story to raise spirits and engage our community despite the challenges we've experienced in the past year.”
Due to virus precautions, the club decided to limit the size of the event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. to groups of 20 that would walk through exhibits depicting events in the story.An elf — played by volunteers — guided each group through four locations placed in shelters at the Odd Fellows Circle. At each point, children and their families were introduced to different parts of the story. After, the groups received their golden ticket for the Polar Express to meet Santa.The tour ended at the “celebration station” where participants received their cookies, hot cocoa or coffee.The coffee was being donated by Cummings Coffee Place.“You get more of an immersive, crowd engaging experience where you're part of the storytelling,” McCarren said.
