2019 Christmas in the Twin Cities: Planes, Trains & Sleighs

We have a unique opportunity in the Twin Cities to enjoy the holidays on Planes, Trains & Sleighs (mostly trains), and we’ve rounded up all we can find just for you and your family!

2019 Planes, Trains & Sleighs

Nov 2-Feb 29, 2020: Night Trains | Twin City Model Railroad Museum, St Paul
Enter a magical world of model trains. Overhead lights are turned down low and the models’ streetlights and buildings are glowing. Saturdays, 6-9pm. $15/pp, family rates available, kids under 5 FREE.

Photo Credit: Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum

Nov 21-Jan 1, 2020: Flyover Holidays | Mall of America
Help Santa search for his elves on an exhilarating flight across America and onto the North Pole! Mon-Sat, 10am-9:30pm & Sun, 11am-7pm. $15.99-$19.99/pp (10% discount purchase online).

Nov 30-Dec 1 & Dec 7-8: Holly Trolley | Como-Harriet Streetcar Line, Minneapolis
Ride the rails with Santa in a streetcar decorated for the holiday. Then, warm up with a campfire and roast a marshmallow. 12:30-3:30pm, $4/pp.

Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 & 22: Santa’s Train Shop | Minnesota Transportation Museum
The museum, located in St Paul, is transformed into Santa’s Train Shop with live music, activities, train rides, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and lots of museum fun. Weekends 10am-4pm, $6-$13/pp.

Dec 6-8 & Dec 12-15: North Pole Express | Union Depot, St Paul
Take a one-mile train ride to the North Pole and write your letter to Santa on the way. Santa will board the train and ride back to the Union Depot, greeting kids and collecting letters with treats and other activities following. (This event historically sells out fast. Tickets are on sale now.) $19.95-$23.95, kids 3 and under free.

If you are looking for the feeling of trains in your shopping experience, don’t miss the European Christmas Market at Union Depot, Fri-Sun, Dec 6-22, 2019. The market opens Dec 6 with the annual Union Depot Tree Lighting, a double holiday movie feature and fireworks.

Find more Twin Cities holiday markets and Christmas shopping events for 2019.

Dec 7: Vinternatt | Como-Harriet Streetcar Line, Minneapolis
The streetcar will be decorated with lights and seasonal greens. Hundreds of luminaries will light the path. Toast marshmallows and watch for Santa. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. 6pm-8:30pm, $5/pp.

Dec 9-12: Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
The brightly lit train will roll into the following Twin Cities-area stations accompanied by a half hour of live music:

12/9 – Hastings, arrives 8pm
12/10 – Cottage Grove, 5:15pm
12/10 – Union Depot, St. Paul, 6:45 pm
12/11 – Golden Valley, 4:45pm
12/11 – St. Louis Park, 6pm
12/11 – Minneapolis, 8pm
12/12 – Loretto – 4:15pm
12/12 – Buffalo, 5:45pm

Courtesy Canadian Pacific

If it’s a horse-drawn sleigh ride you’re after, trot on over to our Twin Cities Holiday Festivals page for more details – many Twin Cities-area communities are hosting their own holiday shopping galas downtown, complete with roving Santas, carolers and those sleigh bells. Or, here’s a sampling of hometown holiday festivals that include sleigh rides:

Minneapolis: Holidazzle
St Paul: Grand Meander
Stillwater: Hometown for the Holidays
Afton: Afton Village Holiday
Excelsior: Christmas in Excelsior
Plymouth: Plymouth Old Fashioned Christmas
Chaska: Hometown Holiday

We have something for just about everyone in our Twin Cities Christmas & Holiday Guide: Santa sightings, shopping, stage shows, singalongs, sleighrides, sparkling light displays and special historical events at sites across the Minneapolis & St. Paul metro area.