I’m a little old-fashioned when it comes to Christmas shows. My favorites are “Rudolph,” “Charlie Brown,” “The Grinch” and “Frosty.” But a new show has made a place for itself in the holiday rotation — “The Polar Express.”

The show is about a group of kids who take a trip to the North Pole, and the Texas State Railroad is re-creating the experience over the holidays with a round-trip train ride from the Victorian-style depot in Palestine.

A number of ticket options and packages are available, but all passengers will meet Santa and enjoy caroling, hot chocolate, and every kid will get a gift. Plus, everyone is encouraged to wear pajamas. (Again, I might be old-fashioned, but I recommend changing at the depot restroom instead of driving across Texas in your night-clothes.)

Ticket prices vary based on days of the week and seating preferences. There are coach, first-class and private-parlor car options. First-class seating features service by chefs, a variety of food and drinks served on silver platters and table seating for two and four people.

The parlor car can handle as many as 18 people, and one car is available per scheduled trip.

For more information, go to www.texasstaterr.com.

Helping less fortunate

This is the time of year when people look for ways to help out others less fortunate, and a person doesn’t have to look far to find people in need or ways to show generosity and compassion.

McLennan County Constable Travis Bailey is gearing up for another installment of his Fishing Event for Really Special People, which takes place each January at the Heart O’ Texas Fair Complex.

The party features food and drinks, games, music and dancing and a fishing tank full of hungry rainbow trout, and is designed to give physically and mentally disabled people of all ages a day to remember and look forward to.

Bailey pulls off the annual event with the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who donate time, money and merchandise. Interested people and organizations can find out how to help by calling 752-8361.

Fishing the Middle Bosque

With college football harder and harder to find on Saturdays, those wondering what to do can look to the lake for answers.

Lake Waco anglers are finding good action both in the main body and up the rivers. Matt and Andy McNew of Robinson took their kayaks to the Middle Bosque River recently for a little bass fishing and hit on a pattern that kept them busy catching fish up to 3.5 pounds using curly-tailed jigs.

Catfishermen prowling timbered shallows are catching limits of channel catfish on punch bait in 5 to 7 feet of water, with best results coming in early afternoon hours. Reynolds Creek was the hotspot last week.

Fly-fishing expo

Troutfest 2011, a Fly-Fishing Banquet and Exposition, will be held Feb. 18-20 on the Guadalupe River at the Rio Raft Resort in New Braunfels.

Events include lectures, exhibits and fly-tying demonstrations, auctions, raffles and a banquet featuring keynote speaker Carter Smith, executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Funds raised will be used to conserve, protect and restore the cold tailwater fishery below the Canyon Dam on the Guadalupe River. For more information, call 512-413-3301.

www.centexoutdoors.com

717-8907