FUN WAYS TO PLAN FOR YOUR DAY OUT WITH THOMAS™
The Day Out With Thomas event at Strasburg Rail Road is coming soon! We’re getting excited about welcoming Thomas and Percy to our station, and we want to help you, your family, and your friends get just as excited.
Whether you’re joining us in June or September, there are ways you can ramp up to this Day Out With Thomas event. In addition to the timeless fun of railroading, the classic storybook friend Thomas the Tank Engine™ brings his own touch of friendship and exploration to this steam engine experience. Get the most out of your visit with Thomas & Friends™ by reviewing these Fun Ways to Plan for Your Day Out With Thomas:
1) Buy tickets in advance!
You can have peace of mind knowing you have secured a seat on the special Thomas and Percy trains by buying your tickets online ahead of time. Plus, by choosing an available departure time early, you can plan for the rest of your day at Strasburg Rail Road. We offer tickets for single Thomas train rides, adding Percy, and adding a trip on the regular excursion train.
Included in the cost of your ticket are a host of Thomas- and train-themed activities. Pint-Sized Pufferbelly Rides, Thomas mini Power Wheels, and Imagination Station are just the beginning of the activities available. You can have hours of fun before or after your train ride.
2) Watch some of Thomas’s greatest adventures on DVD.
Get your kids excited about seeing Thomas in person by reminding them of the great adventures Thomas and Friends have on his Island of Sodor. Before attending the event, gather as a family and watch one of the Thomas DVDs available. Or, if your vehicle plays DVDs, watch some adventures on your way to Strasburg Rail Road, and make the trip fly by.
3) Invite friends to share the moment.
Thomas loves to ride the rails with his best friend Percy. Your kids will likely agree that the journey is always more special with friends! Gather your closest friends and come ride behind best friends Thomas and Percy, and see how your visit is filled with added joy through friendships.
4) Wear your Thomas & Friends gear.
At this event, you’ll be surrounded by other Thomas & Friends enthusiasts, so we encourage you to join the fun by wearing your Thomas and Percy gear. Hats, t-shirts, socks – whatever you have! – with Thomas or Percy on it will fit right in. (Need updated Thomas gear? We’ll have a ton of options available for purchase at the event.) Or, keep it simple and wear clothes that color coordinate with your favorite train: blue like Thomas or green like Percy.
5) Have a lunch/dinner/snack plan.
Nobody likes being cranky because of hunger. So, have a game plan for how you can keep everyone fed and happy. During the event, we’ll have plenty of food options, including favorites such as hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, and chicken tenders. Bring some hand sanitizer and enjoy eating a la carte under a big event tent. Or, bring a picnic lunch to one of our picnic groves, which are accessible by riding aboard Strasburg Rail Road’s regular steam train. (Note: you cannot eat on the Thomas or Percy trains, but you can purchase food and eat in the regular train Dining Car.)
6) Download Thomas & Friends activities sheets.
Whether it’s providing entertainment for the car ride to the station, or something to do while eating a meal, you can keep the excitement going by downloading coloring pages, games and puzzles, and more from the Thomas & Friends website.
7) Pack a phone/camera charger.
Be sure your camera and/or phones are well charged before leaving your home. Consider packing a car charger or portable charger, just in case. The entire Strasburg Rail Road station is Thomas-themed for this event, creating plenty of photo opportunities for you to capture your kids enjoying their Day Out With Thomas. Thomas the Tank Engine, Percy, and Sir Topham Hatt™ are all gathered in one place: you wouldn’t want to miss capturing a perfect moment between your kids and these timeless characters!
8) Bring sunscreen – or rain gear.
Day Out With Thomas is a rain or shine outdoor event. There will be a lot to see and do at the station: tents cover some activity areas, while other areas are in the open. If the weather station is calling for rain, you can still enjoy your day by wearing some rain gear and packing an umbrella. If the weather looks to be bright and cloudless, bringing sunscreen can help your kids enjoy the sunshine safely. In either case, be sure to wear comfortable shoes!
9) Guess what Thomas will say!
Did you know Thomas the Tank Engine talks? When he rolls into the station, Thomas has a few words to say to everyone gathered at the platform. Ask your kids to guess what message Thomas has for them!
10) Know what comes next.
After exploring all there is to see at the Strasburg Rail Road, have a plan for how you would like to spend the rest of your day or weekend in Strasburg, PA. Keep enjoying the marvel of steam trains by going to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, located just across the street from Strasburg Rail Road. Also nearby is the Choo Choo Barn where kids can explore a gigantic model train layout. If model trains are your preference, then the National Toy Train Museum is another must-see. Finished with trains? There are tons of things to do within a half hour drive, as well as a wide variety of local eateries to choose from.
Day Out With Thomas is a family event, and we do everything we can to make this a wonderful experience for you, your family, and your friends. Join us in celebrating the arrival of Thomas and Percy in Strasburg by purchasing your tickets today.