(Photo Submitted by Mark Suek) A Lionel Polar Express model train will be a prize at the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club Christmas Open House from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in the basement of NOE Office Equipment, 610 Green St., Parkersburg.

PARKERSBURG — The Polar Express will be making a stop in downtown Parkersburg on Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club’s annual Christmas Open House.

The popular children’s movie train will be running, in miniature, on a number of the club’s operating layouts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the rear basement of NOE Office Equipment at 610 Green St.

The event is part of Downtown’s PKB’s Winterfest and finishes just before the Parkersburg Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

At the open house, model trains will be running on seven detailed layouts and the club will be offering a Lionel O scale Polar Express train set and a Lionel Polar Express passenger and freight station as prizes. Admission and parking are free and donations will be accepted to help offset the cost of running the trains.

“This is our largest open house each year,” Jonathan Insley, president of the club, said. “We have many families come back year after year with their children, and then their grandchildren. A lot of guests stop by before, or after, the Parkersburg Christmas Parade or visit with us before the tree lighting ceremony.”

The “Polar Express” movie was adapted from the 1985 book written by Chris Van Allsburg. Lionel Electric Trains has been marketing Polar Express trains and accessories for many years and its sales are second only to Thomas the Tank and Friends in Lionel’s expansive line of licensed products.

In addition to the Polar Express, the Christmas tradition of an electric train running around the family Christmas tree will be celebrated at the family-oriented free open house. Club members will have miniature electric trains operating on layouts in HO, N, O, G and Z scales.

The Model Railroad Club operates one of the largest HO scale layouts in West Virginia and one of the top O scale layouts anywhere with lots of modern technology. Guests will enjoy a top-notch G scale layout, much of which was crafted from natural materials, and a detailed N scale layout with Parkersburg landmarks appearing in numerous vignettes.

Club members plan to share the joys of Christmas traditions at the open house that also features holiday decorations, seasonal music and a selfie station as well as commemorative golden Polar Express tickets and coloring sheets for the first 250 children through the door.

“We try to have something new at every open house, whether it be changes to the layouts or a new feature here and there,” said Insley. “This is an excellent opportunity for our club to put its best foot forward and do something nice for the community.”

The Christmas Open House is the most well-attended open house each year for the club, which is winding-up its 43rd year with 63 members on the roster.

In addition to the Polar Express and Christmas, the Model Railroad Club also will celebrate National Lionel Trains Day at the open house. Lionel has been manufacturing toy trains since 1900.

The club also will receive guests at its NOE Office Equipment location from 3-7 p.m. Dec. 15 from Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad’s Christmas Train. Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to make an appearance on the train parked on BIPR tracks outside the club facility, from 7-8:30 p.m.