KC's Christmas Trains
2019 Edition
This holiday season, create family memories with a fun mixture of whimsy and nostalgia as you enjoy one of these magical Christmas Train experiences in Kansas City. From train rides, to the beloved Polar Express, to marvelous model train displays from classic collections to villages made of gingerbread... we have everything for Kansas City's Train Fans! First stop? Why, Union Station of course! .
Trains at Union Station
Celebrate the holidays at Kansas City's own Union Station with Train Rides, Exhibits, and shows! Union Station, 30 W. Pershing, Kansas City, MO
- Model Train Exhibit Located in Union Station's Kansas City Power & Light Gallery enjoy the Model Railroad Experience. This is one of the largest model railroad displays in America with trains of all sizes running through scenes of a festive Winter Wonderland. Next to the display, guests will learn about Kansas City’s Holiday History with a special Holiday Memories exhibit. FREE. Donations accepted. Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PMSunday: 12 PM to 5 PMa
- Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 visiting Union Station Nov. 17-19. It's the world's only operating Big Boy locomotive, and Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 will be visiting Union Station this November. Twenty-five Big Boys locomotives were built exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad, the first of which was delivered in 1941. The locomotives were each 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds
- KCS Holiday Express Dec. 18 – 22 Back for its 19th annual run, the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express train brings Santa Claus and his elves back to Union Station. The Kansas City Southern Holiday Express is unlike any other train in the world! One of Kansas City s favorite holiday traditions, the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train brings Santa to Union Station just before Christmas. Guests can visit with Santa and tour the train for free. Led by Kansas City Southern, Southern Belle business train, the Holiday Express train includes a smiling tank car Rudy; a flatcar carrying Santa’s sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village; a gingerbread boxcar; the elves’ workshop; the reindeer stable; and a little red caboose
- Polar Express in your PJs Dec. 6-18 (SHOWTIMES: MONDAY - FRIDAY 12:30PM, 3PM, 5:30PM & 8PM | SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10:00AM, 12:30PM, 3PM, 5:30PM & 8PM12/18 SHOWTIMES: 12:30PM, 3PM. GENERAL ADMISSION $3) COME DRESSED IN YOUR PJS & ENJOY THE SHOW! Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis ("Forrest Gump"; "Cast Away") reunite for "Polar Express," an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Find complete $3 Christmas Classics schedule here.
- Kansas City Southern Rudy Replica Union Station's Christmas Tree in the Grand Hall will feature a replica of Kansas City Southern’s Rudy Holiday Express circling the tree.
- Ride the Historic Jones Store Train Take a ride on our miniature train! Often referred to as the Jones Store Train and beloved by generations at the holidays, it was once a popular attraction at the Jones Store downtown. Riders must be under 48" tall (approximately 5-6 years of age and under). Union Station Members FREE | Non-members $5
- Santa's Gingerbread Station Nov. 29- Dec. 31. All aboard for a favorite holiday tradition at Crown Center! Kids and families can explore this interactive exhibit, meet and have their photo taken with Santa Claus (through December 24), climb aboard the Crown Center Express Train Engine, and enjoy Gingerbread Village. No admission fee. Photos with Santa are available for a fee, or you may take your own. Open during Crown Center Shops holiday hours.
- Mayor's Christmas Tree The centerpiece of the city's Christmas is the 100-foot-tall Mayor's Christmas Tree, in Crown Center Square. During the day, enjoy the wooden playground beneath the tree's base where you'll find beautiful giant wooden toys where children play and families take photos. You'll find wooden soldiers, cars, planes, animals, and of course... a Christmas train!
- Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant Level 1 Crown Center Shops. This casual restaurant is one your children will not forget! Model Trains travel around the perimeter of the restaurant delivering burgers and fries to your table. Little Engineers love the train decor and delight in the novelty! Fritz's Restaurants
Weekends in December: Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad 502 E Walnut St, Belton, MO. Santa will join us for a 40 minute train ride, will visit with guests, and will stop for photos if you wish, all while the train moves down the track. Be sure to bring a camera! We will sing songs and talk to Santa about activities at the North Pole. After the train, the Railroad will serve hot chocolate and a cookie for each passenger. The Gift Shop will be open too! Did we mention to bring a camera? Only 46 seats are available per train and they sell quickly. Admission Charged
The Overland Park Arboretum is home to a beautiful train garden and depot. This holiday season, children may visit Santa there during the Luminary Walk, held from 5 to 9 p.m., three weekends, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, Dec. 6, 7, 13 & 14. This Arboretum fundraiser features a mile of candles, holiday lights, live musical entertainment, Santa Claus in the Depot, horse-drawn wagon rides, hot cider around a campfire and mystical Gnome and Fairy Villages. Volunteers and staff members are transforming the Arboretum into a wonderland of candles and lights, music and holiday fun. Thousands of candles line the walkways and trails. Holiday lights will be on display from trees, buildings, and bridges. Children will be thrilled to see Santa's Woodland Depot in the Train Garden and chat with him nightly from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The Kansas City Zoo (6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO) is home to an open-air, large-scale train. A highlight of the ride is a trip through the tunnel. Season: year-round; operates daily if the weather is above 50 degrees. While you're at the zoo, enjoy their holiday events! Every weekend, Santa dives with the penguins. Get a one-of-a-kind photo of Santa as penguins torpedo around him. Watch the penguin bubbles trail the man in the red suit and hear the children giggle. Dives are at 2 p.m on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lee's Summit Historical Society Museum
The Lee's Summit Historical Society Museum (220 SW Main) is housed in a 1905 train depot in the heart of Downtown Lee's Summit. The museum is free (donations accepted) and open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 pm - 2:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Explore maps and artifacts of the area’s early history.
Santa Express & Country Christmas
Dec. 14 & 15, National Agricultural Hall of Fame 630 N 126th St. Bonner Springs, KS. $5/car. Visit the National Agricultural Center for some holiday farm fun this season! Take your photo with Santa and be sure he knows your wish list! Ride the miniature train around a historic farm town and scenic pond. Come and enjoy hay wagon rides, holiday activities, hot chocolate and cookies!
For more holiday events, visit our KC Calendar.