Spoil your family with a Christmas train ride this winter. They bring magic and machines together for a joyous holiday experience. You may even get to see Santa Claus himself! These scenic train rides are the perfect holiday experience for families with a pint-size locomotive fan under their roof!
Whether you have got a kid obsessed with trains or your family longs to replicate a Polar Express train ride, these holiday railway rides will be ideal for making core memories. Here in the GTA, we are lucky enough to have some magical options for holiday train rides and experiences on the rails! You might not make it to the North Pole, but you will feel like you’re heading in the right direction! Here are all the best local train rides to experience this holiday season.
Waterloo Central Railway Christmas Train Experience
The Waterloo Central Railway offers two Christmas train experiences. The daytime ride is “Santa’s Countryside Ride” and the evening one is “Santa’s Christmas Caboose”. Both are a one-hour round-trip ride on a magical journey to the North Pole. Santa, elves and reindeer await your arrival. You can expect singing, storytime, and on the evening experience, you get to take in the sights of over 15,000 Christmas lights!
Where: St Jacobs, ON (train departs at the station right near the St. Jacobs Farmers Market)
Cost: Starting at $25.99 for children and $30.99 for adults for daytime in November.
When: Events run until December 23rd
Halton County Radial Railway Christmas Train Ride
The Halton County Radial Railway is offering one last hurrah for the 2025 season; a Christmas on the Rails event! Board the train for a ride through the woods with snow on the trees and Christmas carols in the air. There’s also a big man in red scheduled to make an appearance! New this year: Afternoon cookie decorating for kids! Cost is $5/child. There is a limited number of cookies, so be sure to arrive early.
Where: Milton, ON
Cost: $13 for children ages 4-9, $19 for children ages 10-17, $23 for seniors 65+, and $25 for adults
Family pass:: $75 for 2 adults and 2 children
When: December 6 & 7, 13 & 14, 2025 from 1pm to 8pm
Free Rides On The Winter Twinkle Express in Downtown Milton
The Downtown Milton tourism agency is offering free Christmas Train rides through the downtown core. The Winter Twinkle Express will get you in the holiday spirit with music, fun activities and of course, train rides! Take in the seasonal light displays and the beautifully decorated storefronts, or enjoy a hot chocolate as you stroll the streets!
Where: Milton, ON
Cost: Free
When: Pending confirmation for 2025.
Ride The RBG Express Christmas Train Ride at Royal Botanical Gardens
Royal Botanical Gardens: The RBG is offering Christmas train rides on the RBG Express! Don’t miss a ride on the train during a day visit to the gardens. Purchase tickets at the door to take a round-trip ride throughout Hendrie Park. Tip: purchase your train tickets as soon as you arrive – they do sell out!
Where: Burlington, ON
Cost: $10 + HST per car on top of admission; up to four people per train car.
When: Running Nov. 27, 2025 until January 4, 2026 from 10:15 am to 1:30 pm, closed Dec. 25, 26, Jan. 1
Botanical Train Display
One of our favourite holiday traditions is to check out the Botanical Train Display at RBG.
Upcoming Events For Train Fans
Events
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Oakville Fire’s Summer Splash
Various Oakville parks Oakville, ON, CanadaJuly 8 at Valleyridge Park, 2524 Valleyridge Drive July 15 at Wynten Park, 2495 Wynten Way July 22 at Sixteen Hollow Park, 2140 Westoak Trails Boulevard July 29 at Neyagawa […]
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St Catharines Hot Summer Nights
St Catharines - various St Catharines, ON, CanadaSt. Catharines Fire Services' popular Hot Summer Nights community event returns this week for its fifth year, combining giant sprinkler fun with important fire safety education. During the summer, St. […]
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Doors Open Burlington
Various Burlington sites Burlington, ON, CanadaDiscover the stories behind Burlington’s most unique spaces during Doors Open! Visitors can go behind the scenes of local businesses and heritage sites, taking a look at the people and places that help shape our community. All of the participating sites offer FREE admission and onsite activities. Whether you're a long-time resident or a first-time […]
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Train Days with the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers
Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology 900 Woodward Ave, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaCatch a ride on a miniature train, operated by the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers! Various model engines will be running on the miniature railroad track at the museum from 11:00 […]
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Oakville Fire’s Summer Splash
Various Oakville parks Oakville, ON, CanadaJuly 8 at Valleyridge Park, 2524 Valleyridge Drive July 15 at Wynten Park, 2495 Wynten Way July 22 at Sixteen Hollow Park, 2140 Westoak Trails Boulevard July 29 at Neyagawa […]
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St Catharines Hot Summer Nights
St Catharines - various St Catharines, ON, CanadaSt. Catharines Fire Services' popular Hot Summer Nights community event returns this week for its fifth year, combining giant sprinkler fun with important fire safety education. During the summer, St. Catharines Fire Services’ ladder trucks and dedicated fire prevention team will be visiting a different city park every week, transforming their vehicles into giant sprinklers. […]
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Fire Safety Storytime
Oakville Public Library - various branches Oakville, ON, CanadaJoin us for this special fire safety storytime and enjoy a visit from our community helpers from the Oakville Fire Department! Stop by the library for a special storytime, led by a member of the Oakville Fire Department. It is a great opportunity for your little one to learn about fire safety, hear a story […]
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Summer Ice Cream Night at Halton County Radial Railway **July 16 cancelled*
Halton County Radial Railway 13629 Guelph Line, Milton, Ontario, CanadaWe’re collaborating with partners to offer Summer Ice Cream Nights at a discounted rate. Join us in raising funds for the Milton Transitional Housing, while enjoying an ice cream and a night out at the streetcar museum. Fun for the whole family! Cost is $20/adult and $10/youth or child. Tickets are available online or at the door. Thank […]
$10 – $20 -
Burlington Model Railway Club Public Demonstration
Burlington Model Railway Club 1137 Hidden Valley Road, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaAt the Burlington Model Railway Centre - Hidden Valley Park, Aldershot (Burlington) Ontario See operating model railroads in three different scales: N-scale and HO scale layouts inside, G-scale outside on the garden railway […]
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Fire Safety Storytime
Oakville Public Library - various branches Oakville, ON, CanadaJoin us for this special fire safety storytime and enjoy a visit from our community helpers from the Oakville Fire Department! Stop by the library for a special storytime, led […]
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Flight Paths: STEM Aviation Workshop
MPL Main branch 1010 Main St E, Milton, ON, CanadaFor children 8-12 years of age. Please note: Each child must register separately. Delivered in partnership with Toronto Pearson Airport. Older children learn to build more advanced paper airplanes and test how changes to wings and weight affect distance and control, then use simple maps to chart flight paths and think like pilots planning a route.
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Oakville Fire’s Summer Splash
Various Oakville parks Oakville, ON, CanadaJuly 8 at Valleyridge Park, 2524 Valleyridge Drive July 15 at Wynten Park, 2495 Wynten Way July 22 at Sixteen Hollow Park, 2140 Westoak Trails Boulevard July 29 at Neyagawa […]
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Train Days with the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers
Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology 900 Woodward Ave, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaCatch a ride on a miniature train, operated by the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers! Various model engines will be running on the miniature railroad track at the museum from 11:00 […]
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Fire Safety Storytime
Oakville Public Library - various branches Oakville, ON, CanadaJoin us for this special fire safety storytime and enjoy a visit from our community helpers from the Oakville Fire Department! Stop by the library for a special storytime, led […]
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Summer Ice Cream Night at Halton County Radial Railway **July 16 cancelled*
Halton County Radial Railway 13629 Guelph Line, Milton, Ontario, CanadaWe’re collaborating with partners to offer Summer Ice Cream Nights at a discounted rate. Join us in raising funds for the Milton Transitional Housing, while enjoying an ice cream and a night out at the streetcar museum. Fun for the whole family! Cost is $20/adult and $10/youth or child. Tickets are available online or at the door. Thank […]
$10 – $20 -
Warbird Fly-In
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum 9280 Airport Rd, Mount Hope, Ontario, CanadaCome out to our Warbird Fly-In! We are expecting a variety of restored vintage military aircraft and will also be highlighting the 80th Anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Canada Chipmunk. Several Chipmunks are expected to attend. Please note that a fly-in is NOT an air show. Visiting aircraft will arrive and depart throughout […]
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HMCS Haida Birthday weekend
HMCS Haida Pier 9, 658 Catharine St N, Hamilton, ON, Canada10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. On August 29 and 30, “Canada’s fightingest ship” celebrates the 83rd anniversary of its commissioning. We are thrilled to invite you to make […]
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HMCS Haida Birthday weekend
HMCS Haida Pier 9, 658 Catharine St N, Hamilton, ON, Canada10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. On August 29 and 30, “Canada’s fightingest ship” celebrates the 83rd anniversary of its commissioning. We are thrilled to invite you to make this commemoration a cherished end-of-summer tradition. Come aboard HMCS Haida to immerse yourself in the ship’s storied history and create lasting memories. This year, we […]
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Burlington Model Railway Club Public Demonstration
Burlington Model Railway Club 1137 Hidden Valley Road, Burlington, Ontario, CanadaAt the Burlington Model Railway Centre - Hidden Valley Park, Aldershot (Burlington) Ontario See operating model railroads in three different scales: N-scale and HO scale layouts inside, G-scale outside on the garden railway (weather permitting). Interactive fun for the youngsters! Admission is free Donations will be gratefully accepted
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5th Annual HorsePower 4 Hospital in support of Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation
Paletta Lakefront Park 4280 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, ON, CanadaJoin us September 13, 2026, for the 5th Annual HorsePower 4 Hospital, founded by Angelo Paletta and TNG Exotics & Limited Editions The Next Generation, and Vince Molinaro and Paradigm Condominiums. HP4H will include some of the most spectacular cars, which has included a Ford GT40 Le Mans-winning tribute, and other incredibly unique cars you […]
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