All aboard! These holiday trains are departing throughout Texas, with a destination of the North Pole, or at least an aim of providing good cheer.
What’s the difference between a teacher and a train? A teacher tells you to spit out your gum, while a train tells you to choo, choo.
Granted, with a holiday train, you might trade your gum for some festive cookies and hot cocoa. Either way, you’re welcome aboard. With cozy, inviting decorations full of holiday magic, adventure is just one ride away. Here are the trains departing across Texas this holiday season, plus a couple of stationary options for those who’d rather keep their feet on the ground.
Grapevine: Santa’s North Pole Express
Grapevine is the Christmas Capital of Texas, and Santa’s North Pole Express is a yearly highlight. The train’s vintage coaches are flowing with festive decor, and you’ll meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a pair of helpful guide elves, Holly and Frosty. Of course, the treats are plentiful, including Mrs. Claus’s Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie and Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk, plus a souvenir memory mug so you can celebrate all year round. Study up on your favorite holiday tunes, because there are singalongs throughout the train ride. And don’t worry, you don’t need to know what “Auld Lang Syne” means or go shopping for the items from “The 12 Days of Christmas” to have a grand time.
705 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051. Tickets start at $45 per person. Runs Nov. 27–Dec. 30.
Palestine: THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride
Palestine is home to one of the two main historic rail depots of the Texas State Railroad, so, naturally, the city hosts a spectacular holiday train. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride takes riders inside the classic book, which is also available for purchase. The film adaptation’s soundtrack plays over the train’s speakers as it travels through the Piney Woods, creating an even more magical atmosphere. Chefs serve hot chocolate and cookies while reading passages, and there are Christmas carols a-plenty to keep the train rolling. Just like the book, Santa offers the season’s first gift: a silver sleigh bell that only rings for people who believe in the holiday spirit. Riding in pajamas is not required, though it’s definitely encouraged.
789 Park Rd 70, Palestine, TX 75801. Tickets start at $50 per adult and $30 per child. Runs Nov. 14–Dec. 26.
Mineola: Iron Horse Square Mini Trains
Standard-sized trains are lovely, but mini trains can be just as delightful. And Mineola has a trifecta of holiday-themed mini rides at Iron Horse Square. The train features one engine and three passenger cars and is a 15-inch gauge replica of a classic Union Pacific train. Santa and his elves (and engine conductor) take passengers around the holiday lights, so the views never stop entertaining. Stick around after your ride to explore the train station and museum, which includes interactive model railroads, a replica of Mineola in the 1930s, and the train-themed playground featuring a Little Free Library.
200 W Front St, Mineola, TX 75773. Rides are free. Runs Dec. 5, 12, and 19.
College Station: West Pole Express Train
You can spend a weekend in Aggieland in the fall, but come the holiday season, Saint Nick takes over College Station. Santa’s Wonderland, the “World’s Largest Christmas Park,” spans over 175 acres of snow-covered, light-adorned holiday cheer. The West Pole Express Train, decked in colorful LED Christmas lights from engine to caboose, departs from Santa’s Farm and is included with a general admission ticket. Guests can also spot trains among Tom Wilkinson’s Miniature Christmas Village Collection. And if you really want to stretch your imagination, Santa’s Buckin’ Bull and Rowdy Reindeer, Santa’s Sleigh Photo Op, and the Lone Star Christmas Ship (only for mateys 12 and under) are all kind of like riding a train.
18898 Hwy 6, College Station, TX 77845. Regular season tickets start at $59.95. Runs Nov. 13–Jan. 3.
Bertram: North Pole Flyer
For Austin and other Hill Country residents, the North Pole Flyer is the hottest (or coldest, in this case) ticket in town. The two-hour excursion aboard a diesel locomotive includes visits from and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, all-you-can-drink hot cocoa, a freshly baked holiday cookie, a special Christmas story reading, live balloon twisting, caroling and singalongs, and many cheerful displays outside the windows. Younger guests get some cool souvenirs, too. All riders under 13 receive Christmas coloring sheets and a wooden train whistle.
100 W State Hwy 29, Bertram, TX 78605. Tickets start at $67 per lounge ticket and $57 per coach ticket, with discounted per-ticket rates for group and charter bookings. Runs Nov. 28, 29 and Dec. 5, 6, 12, and 13.
San Antonio: Santa’s Railroad Wonderland
San Antonio is home to many dazzling light displays, and the Texas Transportation Museum gets a facelift for the holiday season as it transforms into Santa’s Railroad Wonderland. Each part of the museum, including the historic depot, garden railroad, model railroads, and the trains themselves, is decked in bright, jubilant cheer. And with plenty of snacks, hot cocoa, and scenery to admire, you’ll have no trouble getting into the holiday spirit. There’s no on-site photographer, but that just means honing your own photography skills to snap the perfect picture with Santa.
11731 Wetmore Rd, San Antonio, TX, 78247. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children, and free for children under 4. Runs Dec. 5–6, Dec. 12–13, and Dec. 19–20.
McAllen: South Pole Illuminated Festival
Many holiday trains set their coordinates to the North Pole, though Santa is a global gift-giver. He’s traveling to the South Pole in McAllen for the South Pole Illuminated Festival at the McAllen Convention Center. While the highlight of the festival is the tallest RGB Christmas tree in America, standing over 10 stories high, there’s plenty to enjoy throughout the event. Color-changing trees, Santa’s castle, ongoing snowfall, s’mores stations, gingerbread house building, and, of course, holiday trains. The South Pole Express weaves through many of the displays, giving guests a 360-degree view of holiday cheer. The festival is dog-friendly for visitors who keep their pups on a leash and clean up after them (not doing so will surely lead to a stocking full of coal). And there’s free parking—a true holiday miracle!
700 Convention Center Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501. Tickets start at $17.50 per person. Runs Nov. 27–Dec. 27.
Alvin: The Christmas Train at Victory Camp
Alvin and the Chipmunks sing one of the most classic holiday songs (and the slowed-down version is simultaneously hilarious and the stuff of nightmares). So, perhaps it’s no surprise that the city of Alvin holds a fantastic holiday extravaganza. The Christmas Train journeys through thousands of holiday lights and decorations, with the open-air cars providing a lovely wintry breeze. A train isn’t your only method of transport, either: Santa’s Speedway offers a go-karting adventure, while the Polar Slide is 24 feet—or approximately four Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeers—of high-speed thrills. If you have impatient travelers in your party, your group can watch the Great Elf Show, help find the Lost Toys in a miniature village, or write and mail a personalized letter to Santa while waiting for your train to arrive.
Victory Camp, 1407 Victory Ln, Alvin, TX 77511. Tickets range from $12.50 to $15. Runs Nov. 27–28, Dec. 4–5, Dec. 10–12, and Dec. 14–23.
Galveston: THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride
The sleigh bells are ringing proudly at the Galveston Railroad Museum, which offers a 60-minute round-trip journey around the island to the North Pole. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride has everything you need to liven up the holidays, from cookies and hot chocolate presented by dancing chefs and conductors to the first gift of Christmas from Kris Kringle himself. There’s even more going on pre- and post-departure, including letters to Santa, countless photo opportunities, and special entertainment. Dedicated sensory-friendly cars are available on Dec. 15. To truly embrace the spirit of “The Polar Express” story, rock your finest holiday jammies.
2602 Santa Fe Place, Galveston, TX 77550. Tickets start at $35. Nov. 13–Dec. 23.
El Paso: Holiday Model Railroad Display
Does riding a train cause motion sickness? Maybe you’d just prefer to keep your feet on the ground and stay in one spot. In that case, El Paso’s Holiday Model Railroad Display swaps a ride in lieu of a functioning miniature railroad environment. Watch the Polar Express traverse through merry settings, presented at the downtown Sunflower Bank in partnership with the Railroad Model and Historical Association of El Paso. The model railroad also makes an appearance at WinterFest, one of the top holiday markets in the nation, complete with holiday movies, pictures with Santa, ice skating, and over one million joyful lights on display.
201 E Main St, Suite 200, El Paso, TX 79901. Free admission. Runs M–F, Nov. 21–Dec. 30, excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas.
