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Kids Enjoy Ride On Mall's Interactive Holiday 'Express'

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Children at International Plaza got an early taste of Christmas by taking a figurative trip aboard the Polar Express.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2008

TAMPA - Fifty children, all clad in flannel jammies and green and red Christmas hats and slippers, ushered in the holiday season this morning at the posh International Plaza by taking a figurative trip aboard the Polar Express.

All aboard.

The annual mall event took on a new theme this year, marketing director Nina Mahoney said. Inside the mall, downstairs from the food court, Christmas trees were set up alongside giant snow globes containing scenes from the movie "The Polar Express." In one giant snow globe, not-real-but-edible snow fell on the children as they walked through.

The kids, some in foster care and others in various stressful living situations, were special invitees, Mahoney said.

Each had new sleepwear provided by the Pajama Program, which received a $5,000 check from the mall as a donation.

The children were treated to breakfast, a sit-down with the Polar Express conductor aboard the mythical Christmas train. The conductor read part of the classic children's holiday story and led the excursion into the 20-foot-diameter globe.

The exhibit will remain up for the rest of the holiday season, and the conductor, local part-time actor Bob Richardson, who dyed his hair and grew a mustache for the part, will be on hand during the weekends, Mahoney said.

It took workers 10 days to build the interactive exhibit, including a 24-hour shift that ended this morning to get it ready for the private party, she said.

While the children were the center of the attention, there were plenty of grown-ups enthralled by the scene.

Among them was Kelly Breeding, development specialist with the Children's Home Society, which helped stage the event.

She wouldn't identify which programs the children are from because of privacy issues, but she did say most were from a mentoring project.

"They all were handpicked," she said. "We chose children who are of an age to believe in Santa Claus and who have exhibited good behavior in school."

Watching the kids bounding from one exhibit to the next touched many there.

"It melts my heart," Breeding said. "They are so excited."

Across the way, the conductor picked up a copy of "The Polar Express" and got ready to begin reading. He looked over excited kids fidgeting on the floor.

"All aboard," he shouted.

"All aboard," the kids yelled back.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

"Are you ready?" he shouted a little louder.

"Yeah," they replied even louder.

Mahoney stood back in the crowd.

"I get a very warm feeling," she said. "This morning is especially touching."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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