The Santa Train Page

"It is the spirit of giving, loving and caring that comes from giving to others, especially to the children. After all, each of us wants to believe." ~ Santa Claus

Santa's Coming!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

From Shelby, KY to Kingsport, TN

The Santa Train could not be made possible without the continuous support and dedication from these terrific partners!

Overview

The Santa Train is the world's largest Santa Parade, 110-miles in route. Now in its 67th year, the Santa Train is an annual train journey through Appalachia where volunteers from Kingsport take 15 tons of gifts, candies and toys to children in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. Thousands of families in rural communities turn out to welcome the Santa Train to their hometowns each year. The Santa Train is co-sponsored by CSX Transportation, Food City and the Kingsport Tennessee Area Chamber of Commerce.

Complete History.

2009 Santa Train

The Santa Train is now in its 67th year and always runs the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

This year it will run Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.

Started as a way for area businesses to thank their patrons, the train now accepts physical and monetary donations, including only new clothes and new toys. Financial gifts from the public have helped establish the Santa Train Scholarship for students who live along the train's route.

Santa Train Route

Click here for the 2009 schedule. Click here for a map of the route.

Seating

Due to safety regulations and extremely limited seating, the opportunity to ride the train is not open to the public. Passengers are selected at the invitation of the sponsors. Kingsport Chamber passengers are selected at the invitation of the Kingsport Chamber Chair and are individuals who have contributed a significant amount of time, effort and resources to the Kingsport Chamber and/or community during the year.

However, 2009 marks the first year where your Kingsport Chamber gave two lucky individuals an opportunity to ride the 67th Annual Santa Train!

Congratulations to Thomas Sargent and John H. Puckett!

Santa's Workshop

Santa needs helpers! On the Wednesday before the train departs, volunteers from the city of Kingsport join the employees of CSX Transportation, the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and Food City. Volunteers gather at Food City in Kingsport to sort the donated items into bins for distribution from the train. By the end of the night, there is over 15 tons of goodies, toys, clothes and gifts sorted by age and gender for the children in this region.

Join us on Wednesday, November 18 2009 at Food City (1205 N. Eastman Road - Kingsport, Tenn.) from 5 to 9 p.m.

Download the flier!

RSVP here to be one of Santa's Helpers!

Santa Train Scholarship

The Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce awards its Santa Train Scholarship each year to a graduating senior who attends a high school along the 110-mile Santa Train route between Kingsport, Tenn. and Pikeville, Ky. The recipient is chosen based on grade point average, extracurricular activities, financial need, work records and an advisor's recommendation.

This year's 2009 recipient is Jessica Pennington, Pound High School, Pound, Va. The four-year scholarship is worth $5,000, $625 per semester. To date, the Kingsport Chamber has given 26 scholarships totaling $130,000.

Buy the official Santa Train Print

Commemorating the 50th Santa Train Anniversary.

Click here for images and ordering information!

Make a Donation

Santa only takes new clothes or toys on the train. If you would like to send a gift or monetary donation, please send it to the following address:

Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce
Attn: Santa Train
151 East Main Street
Kingsport, TN 37660

Ph: (423) 392-8800
info@kingsportchamber.org

The Santa Train Tradition

The Santa Train Tradition is a well crafted children’s book written by Leigh Anne W. Hoover and beautifully illustrated by Carol Bates Murray. It tells the story of seven year old Ben Massey and his annual family tradition of walking to meet the Santa Train on the chilly Saturday morning before Thanksgiving. The Santa Special has been creating holiday cheer for children for over 60 years. The first of its kind, The Santa Train Tradition is sure to be a treasured keepsake for many years to come.

Limited edition Red Cover books are available at your Kingsport Chamber for $13.99.

Green Cover books can be found along the 110-mile trek in all Food City locations as well as Word of Mouth Press website for $11.99.

You can buy your copy at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce or at Word of Mouth Press.