1000 x 90

Thomas the Train Pulls Into Tweetsie Railroad June 6

thomas_tank May 22, 2014. Preschoolers will get the thrill of their lives when Thomas the Tank Engine steams across the country this year. When Thomas arrives in Blowing Rock for the Day out with Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014, he will not only take his fans for a ride, but also talk to them for the very first time on the tour! The event, which takes place June 6-15 will be hosted by Tweetsie Railroad and presented by HIT Entertainment and sponsored by MEGA Brands, a leading toy company and all inclusive Hard Rock Hotels. Day Out with Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 is a fun-filled event that provides children of all ages the opportunity to climb aboard and take a ride with Thomas as well as participate in THomas and Friends themed activities. The tour, now in its 19th year, will make stops in 42 U.S. cities and is expected to welcome nearly one million passengers in 2014. For two back-to-back weekends, little engineers and their families are invited to take a 25-minute ride on their favorite engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway and enjoy a day of Thomas & Friends themed activities including arts and crafts, storytelling and more. Admission to the event at Tweetsie Railroad also includes amusement park rides for all ages, live entertainment including the Tweetsie Palace Saloon Show, Tweetsie’s Miner’s Mountain Magic Show, mascot characters Hopper and Porter’s popular children’s show and more. Thomas the Tank Engine rides depart every 30 minutes, rain or shine. Departure times begin at 9:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. each day of the event. Tickets for the Day Out With Thomas are $39 for adults and $26 for children ages 3-12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Tickets are on sale now. Call Tweetsie Railroad toll-fre at 877-TWEETSIE or visit www.Tweetsie.com to buy tickets or for more information.

Thomas the Tank Engine is star of Thomas & Friends® making tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS® and Sprout®.  Along with his engine friends, Thomas captivates children in more than 145 countries and 30 languages. The #1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. To date, 200 million Thomas & Friends books and e-books have been sold and the CGI-animated Thomas & Friends series is more popular than ever, rating as one of the top programs for children ages 2 to 5[1].

For general information about the tour or to find a Day Out With Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014event near you, visit www.ticketweb.com/dowt.

About Tweetsie Railroad

North Carolina’s first theme park opened on July 4, 1957, and is now in its 58th season. The heart of the park is the famous three-mile train ride behind Tweetsie Railroad’s historic steam locomotives, including Engine Number 12.

Tweetsie Railroad is open seven days a week from May 30 through August 17. The park returns to the weekend schedule from August 18 through November 2, including Labor Day Monday. The 2014 season ends Sunday, November 2. The park’s regular hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but will be open until 9:00 p.m. on July 4 for the Fireworks Extravaganza and July 5, 12, 19 and 26 for Cool Summer Nights. Daily admission to Tweetsie Railroad is $39 for adults and $26 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. The Ghost Train® Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights September 26 through November 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., when admission is $31 for adults and children. Tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at Tweetsie.com.

Tweetsie Railroad is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. For more information about the 2014 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877.TWEETSIE (877.893.3874). Find Tweetsie on Facebook or follow Tweetsie on Twitter @TweetsieRR.

About Thomas & Friends™

Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son nearly 70 years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 185 territories and in 30 languages.  The #1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Children embark on adventures with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation.  Thomas & Friends makes tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS®, Sprout® and with downloadable episodes available through iTunes. For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, please visit www.thomasandfriends.com. Follow Thomas on Facebook atfacebook.com/thomasandfriends and Twitter @TrueBlueEngine.

About HIT Entertainment

HIT Entertainment is one of the world’s leading preschool entertainment companies, specializing in building powerful brands based on engaging stories.  HIT Entertainment’s world-class portfolio includes  Thomas & Friends®, Mike the Knight™, Fireman Sam®, Bob the Builder, Barney®, Angelina Ballerina®, Pingu® andRainbow Magic®.

HIT Entertainment excels at creating and building globally successful brands which capture the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families.  This is achieved through exceptional storytelling in multiple formats, enhanced by creating high quality character-based products and experiences with best-in-class partners. HIT Entertainment’s lines of business span television and home entertainment production, content distribution, digital media, publishing, consumer products and live events and attractions.  HIT Entertainment, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc., has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. For more information visit www.hitentertainment.com

DSC_0105

DSC_0100

DSC_0011