Holiday Train Experiences
There's just something magical about trains during the holidays, so try one of these great Maryland railroad experiences to get the season on track.
There’s no place like Maryland for the holidays! Get into the spirit of the season at Holiday Celebrations, Performances, Light Displays and New Year's Eve Celebrations.
Make this year extra special by taking advantage of our "Open for the Holidays" Deals and Hotel Packages.
We’re transforming the Museum into a Winter Wonderland! Hop into our Holiday Festival of Trains, packed with festive fun and merry traditions, both new and old. There will be something to do for kids from 1 to 92! Greet the season this year and begin a family tradition for many more to come.
Daytime Reindeer Railway Train Rides
Get festive on the first mile! This holiday season, you can take a daytime holiday train ride along the nation’s first mile of commercial railroad. The train will be all decked out for the season!
Photos with Santa Claus
No holiday season is complete until you’ve taken photos with Santa! As part of Holiday Festival of Trains, visitors will have the opportunity to take a photo with Santa Claus on select dates.
Santa's Winter Village
Nestled in the B&O’s spacious Roundhouse, Santa’s Winter Village is a holiday wonderland with lots of festive fun for your little ones! Santa’s Winter Village visitors will get to write letters to Santa, color wooden train ornaments, build a snowman figurine, and more!
Holiday Model Layouts
This year, Holiday Festival of Trains will feature custom model train layouts! Enjoy the classic holiday tradition of model trains by coming to see our festive O Scale layout.
The Polar Express Train Ride
Scenes from this celebrated holiday classic come to life before your eyes. The conductor makes sure you arrive at The North Pole on time, but not before you’ve enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies, and received a gift of Christmas from Santa Claus himself!
Night in the North Pole
We’re staying open late and keeping the Christmas spirit rolling with our Night In The North Pole! Come see the Roundhouse in all its winter wonder as we’ll have crafts for kids and pictures with Santa for all.
“All Aboard” The Polar Express™ this Holiday season on a historic train in Western Maryland. Inspired by the movie, this holiday favorite comes to life as you and your family ride The Polar Express™. Families will love the trip to the North Pole, complete with hot chocolate and cookies served on board. Upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa will present the first gift of Christmas. On the return trip, everyone receives a silver sleigh bell, heard by all of those who BELIEVE. Trains depart from Cumberland and, on several dates only, from Frostburg. Book online.
It’s no secret that Homestead Gardens has one of the finest holiday model train displays in the region. Year-after-year parents who grew up visiting this amazing train display return with their own children to build new memories.
Book early because these train experiences book up very quickly. The Walkersville Southern Railroad offers special train rides to make your holiday season memorable. Ride the train with Santa and have your camera ready. Santa will have a small gift for all children. The train runs rain, snow or shine. Reservations required.
The RFC Train Garden has been a Cambridge Christmas Tradition for nearly nine decades! Each December, we operate daily, providing new memories and rekindling old ones.
This holiday season, enjoy train models set up throughout the oldest surviving railroad station in the United States. Built in 1831 the station was the terminus of the first 13 miles of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and is located in the heart of charming historic Ellicott City.
A special holiday display of miniature planes and trains can be seen in the Christmas Planes and Trains Garden. The Garden features Martin State Airport, Bengies Drive-In, Marshy Point Nature Center, a Hot Air Balloon Festival, Ocean City,
the Polar Bear Plunge and more. See it during a tour of the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum.
Fire Museum of Maryland
Here at the Fire Museum, the annual train garden is a tradition. See multiple trains operating, recognize local businesses, watch a "working fire," and even a subway. The Train Garden opens each year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving and runs each Saturday thereafter until additional dates are added after Christmas. The museum itself is an amazing walk through two centuries of (41) fire engines and an 1871 Fire House.
Yuletide Village at the Upperco Volunteer Fire Company is featuring another exciting train garden. The display is crafted by Volunteer Fire Company members with help from their neighbors. The creative team is combining donated decor with existing items to make this a partially upcycled train garden. Stay tuned for more news about events like the Santa Breakfast.
Experience a holiday exhibit of antique and collectible dolls (like Barbie, American Girl and more), classic trains and other retro toys in this festive holiday display. Write a letter to Santa and send it out by the mailbox at the museum. Find holiday books around the museum to read or try your hand at operating lots of model trains, and more. Visit the Museum Store for exciting gift giving options.
Railroads transformed American life in the 1800s and 1900s, and Maryland played an integral part in the creation of the railroad industry—the Baltimore & Ohio, the first intercity railroad in the Western Hemisphere, was begun in Baltimore in 1827. Visit these museums, attractions and sites of interest to learn more about the history of railroading in America.
