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Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near Chicago 2025

Happy Holiday Railway. Photo courtesy of the Illinois Railway Museum
Happy Holiday Railway. Photo courtesy of the Illinois Railway Museum
10/24/25 - 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 2025 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 board a trolley in Chicago Ridge or Oak Brook. And the CTA holiday trains and buses are back for 2025.

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!

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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 28-December 22
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 6-7
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 6-7
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 7
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 12-Sunday, December 14
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

West Chicago North Pole Adventure

West Chicago- Registration opens November 8
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

Winfield Santa's Trolley Express

South Elgin
Saturday, December 20
Celebrate the season with a heartwarming holiday train ride that's bursting with nostalgia, joy, and festive wonder! Climb aboard our beautifully decorated 1950s vintage elevated cars and journey down an authentic train line dating back to 1986- an unforgettable adventure your entire family will cherish. As the train rolls along, the magic continues with a very special guest- Santa Claus himself- who will visit each family for merry chats, posing for cheerful selfies, and spreading holiday cheer that will delight both kids and grown-ups alike. READ MORE

Bloomingdale Jolly Holiday Train Ride

Roselle
Friday, December 12-Saturday, December 13
All aboard the Holly Jolly Train! Bring the family on a magical train ride to enjoy a story, caroling, mile & cookies, and a very special guest! Space will be limited. This program meets at the Roselle Metra Station. Riders will recieve their boarding passes at check-in time. READ MORE

Fox River Trolley Polar Express

South Elgin
Fridays through Sundays, November 28-December 21
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

SOLD OUT Barrington Express to Santa's Workshop

Barrington
Saturday, December 13
Children and their accompanying adult will take the Metra train from Barrington Station to the Moose Lodge on the famous Woodstock Square! While riding to Santa's Workshop in the North Pole, holiday stories will be read and carols will be sung. At the lodge, cookies will be provided to decorate, and the kids will make a holiday craft while enjoying their cookies, hot chocolate or cider. Santa Claus will also be making an appearance to say "HO HO Hello" and give the kids a treat bag. Registration opens October 21 for Barrington residents and October 24 for non-residents. READ MORE

WAITLIST 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 goody bag on the train as they ride to the North Pole to meet Santa. READ MORE

St. Charles Winter Wonderland Express

LaFox
Saturday, December 6 (Sunday, December 7 sold out)
Celebrate winter your way by hopping aboard the Winter Wonderland Express with your friends and family. Enjoy a magical experience full of holiday cheer and be greeted by a special guest. Savor a delicious pizza & salad meal, topped off with a sweet treat. READ MORE

Roselle Polar Express

Roselle
Saturday, December 6
Board the Polar Express at the Roselle Train Station and enjoy Christmas carols, milk and cookies, and a visit from Santa! The ride lasts one hour and is subject to Metra's schedule. 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)

Blackberry Farm Holiday Express

Aurora
Fridays through Sundays, December 6-21
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 14
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

Holly Jolly Trolley in the Ridge

Chicago Ridge
Saturdays, December 13 and 20
Take a tour of Chicago Ridge's holiday lights aboard the trolley. Then come inside the community center to visit with Santa and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. 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 2025 to Check Again in 2026

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

SOLD OUT Butterfield Park District Polar Express

Sold out for 2025. READ MORE

SOLD OUT Wheaton Santa Express

Sold out for 2025. READ MORE

SOLD OUT Burr Ridge Storytime Train

Sold out for 2025. READ MORE

SOLD OUT 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

WAITLIST Geneva Polar Express Storytime Train

Join the waitlist for 2025. READ MORE

SOLD OUT Skokie North Pole Express

Sold out for 2025. READ MORE

WAITLIST Santa Trolley Express

WAITLIST for 2025 READ MORE

WAITLIST 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 goody bag on the train as they ride to the North Pole to meet Santa. READ MORE

WAITLIST Franklin Park Polar Express

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

Places featured in this article:

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