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Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near Chicago

Happy Holiday Railway. Photo courtesy of the Illinois Railway Museum
Happy Holiday Railway. Photo courtesy of the Illinois Railway Museum
10/25/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Looking for Christmas trains in Chicago? These popular rides fill up quickly, but there are still many available Polar Express train rides near Chicago.

Chicago's Union Station Polar Express ride is canceled again in 2024 because of construction around the station, but plenty of suburbs have opportunities for train-loving kids to meet Santa on their ride to the North Pole! We've also found plenty of Polar Express and Santa Express Christmas train rides in Chicago's suburbs with seats available. Check out the breakfast or lunch spread at the CASA Christmas Express in New Lenox, or visit the Illinois Railway Museum before or after your ride on the Happy Holiday Railway. Check out mini trains in Aurora or Orland Park, or board a trolley in Bloomingdale or Oak Brook. And the CTA holiday trains and buses are back for 2024.

Here are our favorite Polar Express train rides in Chicago that are happening this year, and a list of those to look out for next year!

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Oswego Holiday Express. Event photo courtesy of the Oswegoland Park District.
Oswego Holiday Express. Event photo courtesy of the Oswegoland Park District.

Holiday Train Rides with Tickets Available on Publish Date

Happy Holiday Railway

Union
Saturdays & Sundays, November 29-December 23, 2024
Enjoy a 40-minute train ride with a visit from Santa from the Illinois Railway Museum. The train ride includes hot chocolate, treats and gifts, and kids can see an amazing light display inside the museum. READ MORE

Villa Park Holiday Train Ride

Villa Park
Date TBD
Just like in The Polar Express, kids can wear their pajamas on the train for a ride to "The North Pole" (aka Elburn) aboard the UP Western Line from Villa Park. The event includes a story and a visit with Santa.  READ MORE

CASA Christmas Express

New Lenox
Saturday & Sunday, December 7-8, 2024
Ride the Polar Express from New Lenox to Tinley Park, where families can enjoy breakfast or lunch at Harald Viking Lodge. The event includes visits and photos with Santa, holiday cookies, activities throughout the day, and goody bags and souvenirs for children. Proceeds benefit Will and Grundy County children experiencing abuse or neglect. READ MORE

Polar Express Story Time Train Addison

Itasca
Saturday & Sunday, December 7-8, 2024
The magic of the Polar Express leaves the Itasca Metra Station en route to the North Pole on December 7 and 8. Each date has two time options available. Riders can enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and a reading of the classic children's book on board the train. READ MORE

The Polar Express Storytime Train Frankfort

Frankfort, LOTTERY FOR TICKETS
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Children can travel from the Hickory Creek Metra Station to the "North Pole," where they will find Santa and bring him back to the south suburb. Santa's elves will make balloon animals and read stories on the way. READ MORE

Oswego Holiday Express

Oswego
Friday, December 13-Sunday, December 15, 2024
Get in your pajamas and enjoy a train ride with Santa from South Point Station. Mrs. Claus greets kids with hot cocoa from The Village Grind before families board trains that leave every 20 minutes throughout their session. READ MORE

Franklin Park Polar Express

Franklin Park
Saturday, December 14, and Saturday, December 21, 2024
Climb aboard the Polar Express in Franklin Park for a 20-minute ride to the North Pole (in Elgin). The ride includes cookies, milk, caroling, and holiday stories on the train. Santa board the train in Elgin and rides back to Franklin Park with the kids. READ MORE

West Chicago North Pole Adventure

West Chicago
Saturday & Sunday, December 14-15, 2024
Begin your journey to the North Pole at the West Chicago Train Station. Kids can enjoy music, stories, snacks and surprises before receiving a special gift from Santa. READ MORE

WAIT LIST Winfield Polar Express

Winfield
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Put on your pajamas and climb aboard the Polar Express. Hear the story, drink hot chocolate, eat cookies and see Santa. The train leaves from John Duerr Forest Preserve. READ MORE
Choo choo! All aboard the Holiday Express. Photo courtesy of Blackberry Farm
Choo choo! All aboard the Holiday Express. Photo courtesy of Blackberry Farm

Mini-Train and Trolley Events (Metra Ride Not Included)

Bloomingdale Holiday Trolley Rides

Bloomingdale
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Ride the Blooomingdale Holiday Trolley around town to see the lights, hear a story, sing carols, and visit with Santa. Kids will make a craft and eat treats at Johnston Recreation Center before or after their ride. READ MORE

Blackberry Farm Holiday Express

Aurora
Fridays through Sundays, December 7-22, 2024
See the thousands of twinkling lights at Blackberry Farm while riding the Holiday Express around Lake Gregory. Kids can also take a hay ride, make crafts, visit the reindeer food bar, and enjoy holiday story time readings at the one-room school house. Santa will be available for visits. READ MORE

Oak Brook Holiday Express Trolley

Oak Book
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Believers of all ages can take a trolley ride to the North Pole at this Oak Brook Park District event. Activities include crafts, a reading of The Polar Express, a bounce house, and refreshments. READ MORE
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Polar Express Train ride.
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Polar Express Train ride.

Events Cancelled or Sold Out for 2024 to Check Again in 2025

SOLD OUT Fox River Trolley Polar Express

Kids can relive the holiday classic book The Polar Express on this magical trip from the Fox River Trolley Museum. The train will go to the North Pole, where kids can meet Santa and receive a small gift. Each trip takes about one hour. READ MORE

WAITLIST Itasca Polar Express

Enjoy a story, chocolate milk, cookies, and a visit from Santa aboard the Metra from Itasca to Elgin and back. Children can dress in their pajamas and will receive a special gift. READ MORE

WAITLIST Barrington Express to Santa's Workshop

Waitlisted for 2024 READ MORE

SOLD OUT Butterfield Park District Polar Express

Sold out for 2024. READ MORE

SOLD OUT Wheaton Santa Express

Sold out for 2022. READ MORE

WAITLIST Burr Ridge Storytime Train

Sold out for 2024. READ MORE

WAITLIST Santa's North Pole Adventure

Santa visits his fans at Orland Park's 143rd Street Station to read a story and drink hot cocoa. Kids can also make s'mores at Crescent Park, build a train toy, and enjoy a trackless train ride around the park. READ MORE

SOLD OUT Geneva Polar Express Storytime Train

Sold out for 2024. READ MORE

SOLD OUT Skokie North Pole Express

Sold out for 2024. READ MORE

SOLD OUT Santa Trolley Express

Riders can climb aboard the Santa Trolley Express at six different times for a 90-minute trip from the Oak Park Conservatory to Historic Cheney Mansion on December 8 or 15. At the mansion, families can enjoy milk, cookies, and entertainment. READ MORE

WAIT LIST Polar Express Mount Prospect

When you sign up for the River Trails Park District's Polar Express, your child receives an individual letter inviting them to the Mount Prospect Metra Station, where they can ride to the North Pole. Each child also receives a gift on the train. READ MORE

WAIT LIST Polar Express Mount Prospect

When you sign up for the River Trails Park District's Polar Express, your child receives an individual letter inviting them to the Mount Prospect Metra Station, where they can ride to the North Pole. Each child also receives a gift on the train. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Illinois Railway Museum
Hickory Creek Metra Station
Two Brothers Roundhouse
Wheaton Metra Station