A Day with Thomas: Bubble Tour Coming – Salisbury Post

SPENCER — It’s almost time to climb aboard Thomas the Tank Engine for the annual Day with Thomas event at the North Carolina Museum of Transportation.

Scheduled for two consecutive weekends, September 27-29 and October 4-6, this fun-filled family event will be held at the museum located at 1 Samuel Spencer Dr. in Spencer.

Each year, the event has a different theme, said Tyler Kent, a spokesman.

Last year’s theme was “Let’s Get Colorful,” and this year, according to a press release, Thomas & Friends will celebrate the magic of bubbles when Day Out With Thomas: The Bubble Tour comes to the museum.

Guests can expect tons of bubble-filled, family-friendly activities, and even Thomas will be in on the fun, as fans can take photos with Thomas, who will be decorated with bubbles. With plenty of activities for everyone, guests are encouraged to invite family and friends to create new memories that are sure to last a lifetime.

“It’s a really good opportunity for families to come together and start a new tradition when the kids are little,” Kent said. “It seems to be something, even when the kids are older, when they come back here, they remember coming to Thomas the Train at the Transportation Museum.”

As has been the case in years past, it is a popular event that is enjoyed by children and parents alike, and even the bad weather did not stop them from visiting, as noted in a previous article that mentioned that Catheryn Foster’s then-2-year-old son was a big Thomas fan and knew that the bad weather at the time would not stop them from making the trip from Thomasville.

Foster said their visit was wonderful.

“Even with the rain, we managed to get on the train first,” she said at the time. They were also able to see Sir Topham Hatt, as well as all the exhibits that were in the museum.

“It was great!” she said.

The press release said Day Out With Thomas is taking place at Heritage Railways across the country, with each ticket including a ride on the life-size Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as access to all-day activities for everyone, including live entertainment, photo ops with Sir Topham Hatt, garden games and shopping in the pop-up gift shop for exclusive Thomas merchandise. Tickets for Percy Train can be purchased for an additional fee.

The Bubble Tour includes a 25-minute train ride with the talking Thomas the Tank Engine, and Percy the Train can be added for another 25 minutes of fun on the tracks. Some of the activities and entertainment include bubble blowing and bouncy ball racing in the Bubble Zone, Thomas & Friends toys, temporary tattoos in the Play Pod, a hay bale maze, inflatable characters, model trains and a musical show.

Professional photos will also be available for purchase and are being offered with Thomas, Percy and Sir Topham Hatt. An activity sheet will guide guests through the event, highlighting four key station stops that can be visited to receive a free gift.

Tickets for the event provide access to the museum’s three exhibit buildings, which feature railroad cars, vintage cars and trucks, a replica Wright Brothers flyer, and more. A pop-up gift shop will feature exclusive products only available at Day Out With Thomas. A variety of food vendors will also be on hand.

Tickets for the day are already on sale and available in https://www.nctransportationmuseum.org/day-out-with-thomas/. Tickets are $20 on Fridays, $22 on weekends, ages 1 and up, plus taxes and fees. Members receive $2 off a ticket to the Day Out with Thomas event. Tickets to the event include all on-site activities and one ride on the Thomas Train. Percy Train tickets can be purchased for an additional $8 on Fridays or an additional $10 on weekends, plus taxes and fees. Percy Train tickets are only available as an add-on to a Day Out with Thomas ticket.

The North Carolina Museum of Transportation is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed on Mondays.

For more information about the Thomas & Friends series, visit www.thomasandfriends.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thomasandfriends.