SHELBY – The holidays are right around the corner in Shelby with the return of the Ashland Railway Polar X-Press and the Shelby Area Business Group’s “Moments of Christmas Magic” on Sunday, Nov. 20.
Featuring a parade, an abundance of Christmas characters and holiday-themed activities, the fourth-annual event has quickly become one of Shelby’s most popular attractions.
“It’s an excellent way to promote our businesses, and give back to the community that supports those businesses,” said Jennifer Arms, event coordinator and member of the Shelby Area Business Group.
“It’s a lot on our plates, and we’re always looking for more volunteers, but to see the kids’ smiles and reactions totally pays of all the chaos leading up to it.”
“Moments of Christmas Magic” originally began four years ago as a way for the Shelby Area Business Group (SABG) to highlight local businesses in time for Black Friday shopping. When a partnership with Ashland Railway fell into their laps, the event began to take on a bigger shape.
“We had 27 days to pull it off the first year,” Arms remembered with a laugh. “We’re a lot more organized now, believe it or not. We have definitely grown in our activities and getting more businesses involved.”
The spirited day will begin at noon on Sunday as Shelby’s downtown businesses will be open for activities. Connie’s Place will host vendors, popcorn, crafts and pictures with Elsa. The Coolest Shop in Town will have drawings for a gift card and pictures with Scooby-Doo. Legend’s Sports Bar will host letter writing to Santa and pictures with Frosty.
Other businesses holding gift card drawings include Mallory’s Treasures and the Shelby Thrift Store. The Thrift Store will also have a coloring contest, and pictures available with Penguin and Ice Princess. St. Mark’s Church will also be open with bunnies to pet.
Shelby’s public servants are also getting involved in “Moments of Christmas Magic.” The historic downtown fire department will be open and serving cookies and hot cocoa, featuring Elmo. They will also host a fingerprinting station and a Sheriff Explorers booth.
At 2 p.m. the first main event will kick off with a parade down Main Street. A brand-new event will also start at 2 p.m. in Blackfork Commons park downtown: a reindeer petting station, courtesy of Kleerview Farm Reindeer.
Also at 2 p.m., Central Elementary School’s gymnasium will also open with a variety of children’s activities hosted by area schools.
Pioneer Career and Technology Center’s early childhood education students will help children write letters to Santa in Central’s gymnasium. Pioneer’s culinary arts students will also help children decorate cookies. Auburn Elementary’s Good News Club will have various crafts for kids, and Richland Performing Arts will put on a Nutcracker skit periodically.
“It was absolutely beautiful last year, they did an excellent job,” Arms said of the skit. “Every time they would start dancing, everybody would stop where they were and sit and watch.”
The event everyone will be waiting for begins at 4 p.m. with the arrival of the Ashland Railway Polar X-Press. The train itself will be arriving one hour earlier this year compared to last, accounting for cooler temperatures and waning daylight.
Similar to last year, the location for the train arrival will remain in the grassy field across from Central Elementary rather than at the top of Main Street.
“We couldn’t get enough individuals to properly secure the train on Main Street, and it was becoming a safety issue,” Arms explained. “But the way we have it set up now is absolutely awesome.”
Arms explained that all the Christmas characters arriving on the train – including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Buddy the Elf, and the Conductor – will stand in front of the train as the crowd is guided ahead to take pictures and greet the characters. Afterwards, the Conductor will lead the children downtown to read “The Polar Express” aloud before the train departs again between 5 and 5:30 p.m.
Public parking is available behind City Hall, at W.W. Skiles Football Field, and in the gravel lot behind Central Elementary. Main Street will be closed to allow for pedestrian traffic as well as the parade.
Approximately 3,500 people were in attendance at last year’s Moments of Christmas Magic, according to estimates from the Shelby Police Department. Arms expects at least that many at this year’s event as well, and has already begun planning for years to come.
“There are all kinds of unique attractions that might be coming to this event within the next two to three years,” Arms said. “As long as Ashland Railway continues on with this, we’re going to continue on. It’s too good of an event for the community and kids not to.
“You sit back and see thousands of kids just light up at every event,” she said.
“And it’s gaining momentum every year. It’s unreal to look back on where we were, and where we are today.”
For more information about the Ashland Railway Polar X-Press and the Shelby Area Business Group’s “Moments of Christmas Magic,” visit their Facebook event page.
