‘All aboard!’ Cardinal Express brings cookies, crafts, movie to children

“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.”

That might be the most memorable quote from the movie “Polar Express,” unless you count the conductor’s “All aboard!” Both lines were a part of Saturday’s “Cardinal Express” event in Newton High School’s Center for Performance, where the Polar Express movie and cookie and decoration making were available to dozens of young moviegoers.

The event was put on by the Newton High School student council and the HERO (Home-Ec Related Occupations). The craft-making area opened about an hour before the movie illuminated the big screen in performing arts theater.

Children and adults were able to customize their own frosted cookies and make decorations, such as reindeer heads, reindeer food and snowflakes, and there was a tree-ornament-making station. Many of the older children at the movie had seen it at least once before, including Jessie Hutchinson.

“My favorite part is when the boy gets the sleigh bell,” Hutchinson said. “That’s the gift he really, really wanted.”

NHS student Amie Williams played the role of “conductor.” In full costume, she told all children in the craft area that the train would soon be departing, and she and student council advisor Kelly Tremel introduced the movie to the children in the theater.

One of the event’s organizers, Randy Mills, said those who put the Cardinal Express together knew getting many families to participate in a new Christmas-season event would be a challenge. Mills said the Princess and Papa dance, which has been held in January the past few years, has grown into a large event, and consistency with new events can help things take off.

“We were hoping to have a few more kids come out,” Mils said. “But it will grow, if we keep doing this.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com.