WHY IT RATES: Christmas trains have become a popular December tradition, and one of the most popular is returning to Mississippi this year.—Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior Writer.

Thousands of families enjoyed The Train to Christmas Town in locations across the U.S. last year, but also across the pond in England. An article about the train in the London Telegraph asked, "Is this the best Santa Train in England?" The writer of the article, Rosa Silverman, certainly thought so, as she concluded, "The Train to Christmas Town… was, therefore, a must."

Many families who experienced the train ride in Batesville agreed. Overall, nearly 150,000 people rode Train to Christmas Town in 2017, and tickets are now on sale for the 2018 Christmas season, with dates close to Christmas selling fast.

"Our guests recognize that the Batesville Train to Christmas Town is a fantastic show and train ride for families, and many are excited and ready for this year's train," said Ed Ellis, operator of the train. The on-board theatrical event is based on the children's book, The Train to Christmas Town, which follows the story of a young girl named Janice and her friends as they take their traditional ride to see Santa and his jolly elves.

The Train to Christmas Town includes many of the popular features from previous years, including cocoa and cookies, a reading of the book, a visit from Santa with a gift for each child, and Christmas carols on the way back. And, the train ride features an engaging cast of storybook characters including Wabash the squirrel, Zephyr the cat, and Bumblebee the bear, all going to Christmas Town on the train.

The festive atmosphere at the station and on the train includes original holiday music from the Grammy-nominated band "Trout Fishing in America." The book was written by Peggy Ellis, a lifelong educator, and was illustrated by Jeffrey Lee, who is best known as the graphic artist behind the 1980's arcade game Q*bert.

The Train to Christmas Town train ride and performance is also available at other locations in the U.S. and UK.

For more information, reach out to your local travel agent.

SOURCE: Grenada Railroad press release.