If someone in your family has a passion for trains, this is an excellent time of year for you. In November and December, there’s a bounty of holiday train fun and events celebrating the glories of railroad travel. We’ve got something for everyone from riding the train with Santa to viewing miniature train villages. All aboard!
Photo credit: Istock
Holiday train outings: model trains
Swanson Holiday Model Train Village
Come to Swanson’s annual model train village for your family train outing! They will have a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed model train this year, with favorite characters from the book and movies, plus some other favorite characters (Elsa, Shrek, etc.) visiting the factory! Dont miss the Santa’s Yurt, an interactive kids’ space, which will also have some Wonka additions. Plus, all of the usual holiday fun, including Santa Photos by appointment, holiday décor and ornaments, Christmas trees, and a special golden ticket promotion in their café.
Date: November 9 – December 31, 2024. Open Daily. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Extended hours Nov 29-Dec 23, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Pricing: Free entry
Location: Swanson Nursery, 9701 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117
Volunteer Park Holiday Express Train
Watch a model train make its way through lush poinsettias and a vintage winter layout at the Volunteer Park Conservatory. The train will run starting Friday, November 22, with a FREE open house event from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. The train will plan to run every weekend from November 22 through December 29, 2024. There is free admission on the first Thursday of the month for everyone. On the first Saturday of each month (Free admission for youth aged 12 and under with purchase of paid adult)
Date: November 22-December 29, 2024. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Pricing: Entrance fee is $6 for general admission, $4 for senior, military, student or disability. Free for children 4 and under.
Location: Volunteer Park Conservatory, 1400 E Galer St, Seattle, WA 98112
Note: This train is run by volunteers, and there will be times when they aren’t able to run the train on a weekend day. Feel free to email: foc@volunteerparkconservatory.org the day before you plan on going!
Washington State History Museum Model Train Festival
Join the 28th annual Model Train Festival at Tacoma’s Washington State History Museum! This museum has become a paradise for model train enthusiasts around the state who create elaborate train layouts on each floor, each with intricate diorama scenes of the Pacific Northwest. Kids can also see railroad artifacts in the Great Hall of Washington History. It will be closed on December 24 and 25, 2024. Enjoy trains on the big screen in their auditorium, where I Love Toy Trains and I Love Big Trains, from filmmaker Tom McComas will screen throughout the festival. The auditorium lobby will serve as a family room with toy trains, Legos, and more.
Date: December 20-January 1, 2025. Open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Pricing: $14 for an Adult, $11 for Student, Military, or Senior (65+). Buy tickets here.
Location: Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402
See a giant layout of a turn-of-the-century village at the Seattle Center Armory. This display has been around for over 40 years. Participate in a scavenger hunt and try to find all the hidden pieces within the train village. Donations are welcome to help keep the train running. In addition, there is a special guidebook that will give you all the fun holiday activities and events.
Date: November 29 – December 31, 2024. Open daily.
Pricing: Free entry
Location: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
Photo credit: Washington State History Museum
Holiday train rides
Polar Express Train Ride, Chehalis
Passengers are invited to ride comfortably on a 75-minute round trip to the North Pole in a vintage railcar. While on board, hot chocolate and delicious treats will be served. Each child will be given the first Christmas gift, and chefs will sing Christmas carols on the ride back to the Depot. The train will depart on select Fridays, including November 29, December 6, 13, and 20, 2024. The train offers regular coach seating (seats 4 people) and first-class seating with two options: the Parlor (seats 6-7 people) and the Dining Room (seats 8 people).
Date: November 9 – December 22, 2024. Departs 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday/Sunday.
Pricing: Regular coach seating is $64, Parlor Room is $476, Dining Room is $635 (note: children under age 2 are free, but must be on an adult’s lap). Buy tickets here.
Location: Chehalis Centralia Railroad, 1101 SW Sylvenus St, Chehalis, WA 98532
You will begin your 2-hour, round-trip experience at North Bend Depot, where you will see Santa and his elves as you board the train’s seasonally decorated coaches and ride to the Railway History Campus! After the train ride, you will get to go inside, where there will be music, refreshments, and various exhibits! Lastly, there will be a visit with Santa, where each child will receive a small gift and participate in seasonal crafting activities. Tickets are limited; be sure to book as soon as possible!
Date: November 30, December 1, 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 2024. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. time slots.
Pricing: Tickets are $39 per person, Free for ages 2 and under. Buy tickets here.
Location: North Bend Depot, 205 E McClellan Street, North Bend, WA 98045
Photo credit: Local Hub
Yuletide Express Train Ride, Snoqualmie Depot (Sold out)
Depart the Historic Snoqualmie Depot for a 25-minute excursion with Santa and his elves aboard seasonally decorated antique coaches and travel west to Snoqualmie Falls and back. Enjoy a small gift from Santa and a peppermint stick for your ride home. TICKETS SOLD OUT.
Date: November 30, December 7, 14, 21, 2024
Pricing: $28 (everyone age 2 and older needs a ticket; tots age 1 and younger ride free on a lap). Buy tickets here. SOLD OUT.
Location: Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 SE King St, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
Date: Saturday, December 14. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Pricing: Free
Location: Duvall Train Depot, 26227 NE Stephens St, Duvall, WA 98019
All aboard for a day of holiday cheer at Duvall Express. Join at the historic Depot Building and Visitor Center for a free, family-friendly event filled with activities for everyone to enjoy. There will be a Lego building station, a trackless train ride, crafts with cocoa, face painting, and photos with Santa at this FREE event.
The Polar Express Train Ride, Elbe (Sold out)
All ages can enjoy the warmth and fun of the Christmas season as you depart for a trip to the North Pole. This is a 75-minute roundtrip immersive theatrical experience. Passengers will be entertained by Chefs, enjoy Hot Chocolate and Cookies, and listen to a reading of The Polar Express. Upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa will board the train and give each child the first gift of Christmas (a silver bell). Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride! TICKETS SOLD OUT.
Date: November 22 – December 23, 2024. Select days.
Pricing: Adults $48; youth ages 2–17 $38; tots ages 2 and younger ride free. SOLD OUT.
Location: Trains depart from the Elbe Depot, 54124 Mountain Highway E, Elbe, WA 98330
Ride a real, working train! There are many ways to do that around Seattle, although these are different from the steam-powered variety. Link light rail has expanded and now will take you from Northgate to Lynnwood or south to Sea-Tac airport and beyond. The vintage Monorail is super-cool and connects Seattle Center and Westlake Center, two Seattle-area holiday hubs. In downtown Tacoma (see the museum’s model train festival above), you could hop on a light-rail train for a short, scenic ride to the Tacoma Dome and back. If you’re feeling more ambitious, hop on an Amtrak Cascades train from King Street Station and travel to Canada or Oregon (or points between!)
Read more
Seattle’s Child Calendar events
