The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 Gap Road, Strasburg, will once again welcome the holiday season with its annual Christmas With the Conductor events on Saturdays, Dec. 3 and 10, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. There will be a set fee per child in addition to regular museum admission, and the activity is recommended for children over the age of 3.

As guests arrive at the museum, a conductor will greet them in the lobby and lead them to one of many historic railroad cars. Once inside, the conductor will read the Christmas story "The Polar Express" to children. After the story is finished, the conductor will take the party to Jack Frost Station, where everyone will decorate their own gingerbread cookies and receive a small goodie bag to wrap up the event.

Christmas With the Conductor is a part of the Railroad Museum's Home for the Holidays event, which is included in museum admission. On both days of the event, the museum will be filled with costumed interpreters in historically accurate garb, hands-on activities will be available in Stewart Junction railway education center, and cookies and hot chocolate will be offered in the lobby while supplies last.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania began hosting Christmas With the Conductor in 2005, with the goal of using the classic tale of "The Polar Express" and historic train cars to promote literacy in children and celebrate the holidays.

"The kids love getting their tickets punched. The event really captures the excitement of going on a trip for the holidays," said Elizabeth Myers, program coordinator at the museum. "They always have so much energy, especially after the cookies and icing at the end!"

Guests will have an opportunity to participate in many other seasonal activities before and after Christmas With the Conductor: live holiday music will be played throughout the museum, messages will be telegraphed to the North Pole, and children may take a photo with Santa.

"My favorite part is always the live music. As you walk around and look at the historic locomotives, the environment and background gives the museum so much extra life," said Myers.

To register for Christmas With the Conductor, visit https://tinyurl.com/railroadchristmas.