Polar Express Route Finalized

Following recent discussions by Stephens County Commissioners and county staff regarding safety concerns, the procedure and route for the annual Polar Express has been updated to limit interaction with children during times that the county-sponsored Polar Express vehicle is in motion. 

Staff and officials worked to re-imagine the route to provide more time and a set schedule when the Polar Express would arrive at a set location and pass out treats and interact with area youths, and earlier this week, the finalized route for the 2023 Polar Express was announced.

The Stephens County Polar Express Train will be at ChristmasFest in downtown Toccoa from 4:30 – 9 p.m. on December 1.

Next, on Thursday, Dec. 7, the Polar Express will visit Big A Elementary from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., then visit Liberty Elementary from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. and finish the morning with a stop at the First Baptist Church Daycare from 11:30 a.m. to noon.  

That evening, The Polar Express will visit the Toccoa Pines Apartments from 5:30 – 6 p.m., and then head to The Vista I & II and will be on site from 6:15 – 6:45 p.m. 

Next up, The Polar Express will head to the Housing Authority/Audubon Place, arriving at 7 p.m. and departing at 7:30 p.m. to head to the last stop of the night, visiting Fern Point Apartments from 7:45 – 8:30 p.m. 

On Friday, December 8, The Polar Express will start out the morning at Toccoa Elementary, arriving at 8:10 a.m.  Then train will then be at Circle of Friends from 8:45 – 9:15 a.m. before heading to the ICare Development at the site of the former Precious Minutes daycare, arriving between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. and departing at 10 a.m. to visit ICare Development at the site of the former Peanut Patch Daycare from 10:15 – 10:45 a.m.

The Polar Express will finish up stops on Friday at the Learning Tree Academy from 10:55 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

On Tuesday, December 12, the Polar Express will be at the Recreation Department on Rose Lane from 6 – 8 p.m., and on Wednesday, Dec. 13, the Polar Express will visit a number of area churches, with stops at Ebenezer Baptist from 6:15-6:45 p.m., the Pointe Church from 7 – 7:30 p.m.; Christ Fellowship from 8 – 8:30 p.m., and ending the evening at Tom’s Creek Baptist Church from 8:30 – 9 p.m.

On Wednesday, Dec. 20, the final day of the 2023 Stephens County Polar Express, the train will arrive at Chic-Fil-A in Toccoa at 5:30 p.m., and then spend approximately 30 minutes at the front entrance of the Toccoa Walmart, starting at about 6 p.m., before heading to the last two stops of the season, New Hope Baptist Church from 6:30 – 7 p.m., and Sunnyside Baptist Church from 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.

WNEG News will provide additional reports on the annual Polar Express in the coming weeks.