Holiday Train Rides Near Boston for Kids, 2026
Edaville, the Polar Express on Cape Cod, Santa trains in New Hampshire and a trolley in Maine: dates, prices and booking tips for the 2026 season.
- Carver
- Buzzards Bay
- Lincoln
- North Conway
- Woburn
No holiday train leaves from Boston itself, so a train day means a drive: an hour south to Carver or Buzzards Bay, two hours up to Lincoln, New Hampshire, or a Sunday-only ride out of Woburn. Seats on these rides sell out, so the dates below matter as much as the prices. Everything here comes from the operators’ own pages as of November 9.
At a glance
| Ride | Where | 2026 dates | Price (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edaville Winter Wonderland | Carver, MA | Weekends, Nov 27 to Dec 27 | $38 general admission; $68 First-Class Pajama Express; under 2 free |
| The Polar Express Train Ride | Buzzards Bay, MA | Select nights from Nov 20 (see below) | Kids 3-12 from $44-$104; adults from $54-$114 |
| Santa Express | Lincoln, NH | Nov 27 to Dec 23 | See the railroad’s ticket page |
| Jolly Jingle Express | Woburn, MA | Sun, Dec 13 (noon, 2, 4 and 6 pm) | $49 plus service fee |
| Christmas Prelude Trolley Rides | Kennebunkport, ME | Dec 4-6 and 11‑13 | $15 |
Edaville Winter Wonderland (Carver, MA)
About an hour south of Boston, Edaville turns its theme park into a lights-and-trains festival on weekends from November 27 to December 27, 2026, closed December 25. Hours differ by day: Fridays 4 to 9 pm, Saturdays 2 to 9 pm and Sundays 3 to 7:30 pm. The park is at 5 Pine Street, Carver.
General admission is $38 per person with fees included, and children under 2 are free. The ticket covers the festival activities during open hours, including unlimited rides on the Holiday Express train and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Food, drinks and ticketed special events cost extra.
There is also a First-Class Pajama Express at $68 per person, which adds a reserved ride at a time you choose, hot chocolate, a chocolate bar and a winter beanie. Regular Holiday Express rides are first come, first served, so if your kids care most about the train, arriving early matters more than which night you pick.
Edaville’s page says “rain, shine or snow”; for a refund or parking question, call 508-866-8190. The event is Winter Wonderland, not a Polar Express storyline, so do not promise your kids the book.
The Polar Express Train Ride (Buzzards Bay, MA)
If you want the story, the Cape Cod Central Railroad runs a licensed Polar Express ride from 70 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, a bit over an hour south of Boston. The round trip takes about an hour and a half.
The railroad’s page names opening weekend, November 20 to 22, with its own lower price. The full calendar of nights is on its booking page.
Published fares are per person, and the child price is listed first:
- Standard, opening weekend: matinee $44 child / $54 adult; regular $59 / $69
- Standard, regular dates: matinee $54 / $64; regular $69 / $79
- First Class: matinee $89 / $99; regular $104 / $114
- Table packages: Deluxe 4-top $390 to $440 per table; Premium 4-top $435 to $535; Premium 6-top $695 to $795
Children are ages 3 to 12, adults are 13 and up, and babes-in-arms under 3 are $10. Standard Class has stairs and cannot accommodate wheelchairs; the railroad points wheelchair users to First Class or the Deluxe cars.
Santa Express (Lincoln, NH)
In the White Mountains, the Granite State Scenic Railway (the former Hobo Railroad) runs 60-minute Santa trains from 64 Railroad Street, Lincoln, from November 27 to December 23. Per the railroad’s schedule:
- Friday, November 27: noon and 2 pm
- Fridays in December: 2 pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: noon and 2 pm
- Tuesday, December 22 and Wednesday, December 23: 2 pm
Seat tiers run from Coach benches (candy cane and bell) to First Class tables, Crown Class chairs and tables for four, and Premier couch seating, which adds a cookie, hot chocolate and a wristband for first access to Santa photos. Prices are on the railroad’s ticket page. Advance reservations are required, pets are not allowed, and trains run in all weather. For boarding assistance, call 603-745-2135 ahead of time.
Christmas Prelude Trolley Rides (Kennebunkport, ME)
Not a train, but close enough for a small trolley fan. The Seashore Trolley Museum runs decorated trolley rides on Friday to Sunday, December 4-6 and 11-13, at 195 Log Cabin Road in Kennebunkport. The museum is open 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and the last ride leaves at 5 pm. It costs $15 per person, free for children 2 and under on a lap, and includes hot chocolate and marshmallows at the fire pit. Each ride is about 25 minutes. Santa is on campus Sunday, December 6 from 3 to 5:30 pm and December 11-13 from 9:30 am to noon and 1 to 5:30 pm. Refunds are only available up to one day before your date. Questions: (207) 967-2800 or [email protected].
Jolly Jingle Express (Woburn, MA)
The Wakefield Music Boosters’ Jolly Jingle Express is a Santa train ride from Anderson Station in Woburn on Sunday, December 13, 2026, with trains at noon, 2, 4 and 6 pm. Tickets are $49 plus a ticketing-agency service fee. The Boosters’ FAQ page says tickets went on sale October 24 at noon, so check it for what is left.
Booking tips that apply everywhere
- Book as soon as dates post. Polar-style rides and Santa trains are the first holiday tickets to sell out.
- Match the time to the nap. A 90-minute ride with a toddler is a very different outing than a 60-minute one. Matinee fares are cheaper on the Polar Express too.
- Read the refund line before you pay. Cape Cod’s tickets are nonrefundable, and the trolley museum refunds only up to a day ahead.
- Ask about accessibility early. Cape Cod and Granite State both publish accessibility contact information.
- Dress for the platform. Boarding areas and outdoor festival grounds are outside in December, even when the ride itself is not.
For evening light displays, including the Edaville weekends, see Holiday Lights Around Boston, 2026.
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Sources
- Edaville Family Theme Parkedaville.com
- Cape Cod Central Railroad: The Polar Express Train Ridecapetrain.com
- Granite State Scenic Railway: Santa Expressgsscenic.com
- Wakefield Music Boosters: Jolly Jingle FAQwakefieldmusicboosters.com
- Seashore Trolley Museum: Christmas Preludetrolleymuseum.org
Details such as dates, hours and prices come from the sources above and can change. Check with the organizer before you go.
How we report: every date, price and address comes from a linked source.
