It may not be December yet, but it's safe to say there's an unmistakable sprinkle of Christmas magic in the air - especially at East Lancashire Railway (ELR).
Last Sunday, November 23, I took my five-year-old nephew and nine-year-old niece on a festive train ride through the borough.
Over the years, I've been making a conscious effort to swap the piles of physical gifts for more meaningful experiences.
I thought that this was a good place to start while making some special family memories along the way.
Way back in April, I spotted that tickets for one of ELR's most popular events, the Santa Special, had gone on sale.
I also knew from bitter first-hand experience that they usually sell out in record time, so I bagged myself four spaces using a cheeky online discount code and smugly congratulated myself on being so very organised.
For those that don't know, the heritage railway showcases loads of different events all year round, from premium dining experiences to family-friendly adventures, a vintage festival and just about everything in between.
On Sunday morning, we parked up in Bury and headed to the ELR ticket office on Bolton Street, where we were immediately transported to a winter wonderland.
The station was adorned with festive lights, decorations and interactive characters, both human and animatronic.
We were greeted by a cheerful Mrs Claus, who was using sign language alongside verbal conversation to interact with visitors.
Inclusivity was very much considered at all stages of the event. There was the option to purchase tickets for a Santa Special train specially designed for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
We also picked up a couple of the 'Emotion' cards on offer for the kids to use, showing staff and characters how they were feeling at any given moment to help give them the best possible experience - even if they became overwhelmed amongst all the excitement.
On our way to board the train, we met a jolly conductor, a snow queen, a chatty reindeer, a dancing Christmas tree and a friendly nutcracker who took the time to have a long chat with the kids about the upcoming ride (and even remembered us as we went off later on, stopping for another natter which made my neice's day).
It's fair to say my nephew was utterly starstruck as he watched the performers intently, and even took part in a spontaneous little dance on the platform.
Once on board, we began the hour-and-a-half return journey to Rawtenstall and back. A kind volunteer brought over bags of chocolate coins, juice cartons, activity books and crayons for each of the kids.
Us grown-ups had been given a goodie bag each on the way in containing a mince pie and a small bottle of Baileys, which I thought was a nice touch.
A brass band graced our carriage to play a couple of classic Christmas tunes, which we all delighted in singing along to. In between visits from some 'naughty elves', it was time for the big man to make his much-anticipated appearance.
Father Christmas came bursting through the carriage doors with his entourage and big bag full of gifts. I like the fact that he took the time to speak to each child individually as he handed out age-appropriate presents and posed for selfies.
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After the train trip, we stopped at the station café for a hot chocolate and a bathroom break.
By the time we'd finished around half an hour later, the platform and station were almost empty, giving us another chance to enjoy the flawless décor, chirpy characters and photo opportunities - minus the crowds.
I paid a total of £75.30 for two child and two adult tickets (using a 20 per cent discount code), which I thought was more than reasonable given the overall experience.
There are still a handful of tickets available on the ELR website, ranging from £23 to £41, if you'd like to experience the magic for yourself!
East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street Station, Bolton Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0EY
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