Spreading Holiday Cheer with Boosted Carson City Santa Train Experience

Celebrating its 27th year, the popular Santa Train took a new approach to this year’s programming by enhancing the event with upgraded amenities, expanding to 3 weekends, and optimizing participation by launching a new online ticketing system.

Dr. Todd Gray, DDS and Dr. Heather Parsons, DMD of Valley Pediatric Dentistry, thought this year provided an outstanding opportunity to assist the museum’s efforts by encouraging local businesses to help sponsor the event through donations for holiday decorations and supplies not provided by the museum budget.

Turnout for 2015 exceeded expectations with over 4,000 visitors experiencing the event. On Sunday, December 19th, the museum ran an extra train to accommodate a crowd that came late in the day. In all the 2015 Santa Train had a 26 percent increase in riders compared to last year.

The Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum had several fantastic raffle prizes available, including a sleigh ride in South Lake Tahoe. Quite popular with the children was the Letters to Santa table with children having a chance to write a letter to Santa and put it in Santa’s mailbox.

The Carson City Railroad Association displayed an HO scale model layout, which was popular with kids and adults alike. Also, for the first time, volunteers dressed in period clothing from the Victorian Era to greet visitors on the platform and ride in the train to provide guests with a more festive experience. In the main museum building the Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum, a non-profit, raised money by selling photos of guests with the Inyo, the famous wood burning locomotive built in 1875.

In addition to providing festive decorations for the train cars and depot, Valley Pediatric Dentistry had helpers on hand to interact with children about the benefits of good oral health and provided area children with free toothbrushes.

“Riding the Santa Train at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City is a tradition for many families in the area. We know how important this event is for so many children and thought the festivities were a perfect environment to interact with families and spread the message of good oral health. We were happy to have handed out over 2,500 toothbrushes to children and were thrilled to be a part of the 2015 Santa Train.” Dr. Todd Gray.

Adam Michalski, Curator of Education for the Nevada State Railroad Museum said, “In year’s past, the museum had reached out to local businesses for support of our Santa Train programming. While this is not a new concept, sponsorship is an excellent opportunity for the Nevada State Railroad Museum to enhance the Santa Train experience for our visitors. We look forward to expanding these efforts in the years to come and are excited to partner with our community.”

About Valley Pediatric Dentistry

Established in 2004, Valley Pediatric Dentistry is a unique practice offering comprehensive, specialized dental care for infants, children and young adults. Conveniently located in the beautiful Carson Valley, their client population draws from an expansive area of both Nevada and California. As the first pediatric specialty practice to open in Douglas County, Nevada, Dr. Gray and his team are proud to have become an integral part of the health care community for area residents. Valley Pediatric Dentistry works towards improving children’s dental health care in our local communities. As specialty trained doctors and staff, they appreciate the varying needs of each patient (infant through teen) and prioritize safe, fun and comfortable visits. Additionally, Valley Pediatric Dentistry works with patients in a child-friendly manner to help keep children’s teeth as healthy and beautiful as the first day they arrived.