Pullen Park sells thousands of ride tickets, prepares for Holiday Express

It's been a busy couple of weeks at Pullen Park. And it won't slow down this week as staff at the park and Pullen Place cafe gear up for the Holiday Express.

Posted 1:25 a.m. Dec 5, 2011 — Updated 1:25 a.m. Dec 5, 2011

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

If you've been to Pullen Park in the last couple of weeks, you know that it's been a very busy time for the much missed Raleigh park, which reopened on Nov. 19.

According to the city, more than 66,000 ride tickets were purchased in the first week of operation. You read that right: 66,000. That's a lot of rides on the carousel, train and boats, though I suspect some of them might squirreled away in purses and wallets for future visits. (A few may end up in my kids' Christmas stockings this year).

The new Pullen Place cafe is going strong too. Holly Taylor, one of the owners, said they've learned a lot in the first week and look forward to having a bit more time to make some changes to the menu and service. The restaurant focuses on fresh, healthy, local food, but offers hot dogs and treats too.

Taylor said the cafe also is getting a lot of interest in their catering services from families and businesses. Pullen Place plans to roll out catering services next month, but they've already gotten calls from people wanting help with birthday parties, family picnics, business meetings and even a wedding. The cafe's catering menu will be posted on its website in the next couple of weeks.

Right now, park staff are gearing up for the 2011 Holiday Express, a four-day event that starts Thursday. Advanced tickets can be purchased online through Tuesday for $7 per person. Starting Wednesday, if tickets are still available, they will be $10 per person and can only be purchased at the Pullen Park Welcome Center. Kids ages 2 and under are admitted free with paying adult.

More than 10,000 people are expected this year for the popular event, the first since the park closed in December 2009. The Holiday Express includes visits with Santa; carousel rides; holiday music; arts and crafts; and a train ride decorated with $15,000 worth of holiday lights. The event is presented by the Crabtree Rotary Club and the city of Raleigh. A portion of the proceeds go to Rotary charities.

At last check on Friday afternoon, there were still tickets available for all four days, though there were less than 70 for Sunday. The Holiday Express runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, at the park on Ashe Avenue off Western Boulevard.

For details, click here. Check the box above for more information about Pullen's $6.3 million renovations.

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