2026 Christmas & holiday train guide

Christmas & holiday trains in Maryland

Compare 4 reviewed holiday programs in Maryland, including their boarding towns, departure announcements and ticket status.

Compare the departures ↓Explore Polar Express rides →

Western Maryland locomotive 1309 hauling its Polar Express train in December 2022 — Western Maryland’s Polar Express train, photographed near Ridgeley in December 2022. Historical holiday photograph; this season’s equipment can differ. Display crop. Ynot3700 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
2026 dates published
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Start with the train tickets. Check the exact date and seating class before booking a hotel or planning a long drive. Reviewed schedules and sold-out notices help you compare; they do not promise remaining seats.

Choose a departure in Maryland

The boarding location matters: holiday services can use a different station from a railway’s regular trains. Compare the stops below before choosing a ride.

Holiday train programs, boarding locations and schedule status in Maryland
Holiday ride	Where to board	Schedule & tickets
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideB&O Railroad Museum	Event entrance: North Car Shop off Arlington Street, Baltimore, MD; event parking at 1100 James Street	November 28–29; December 5–6, 12–13 and 19–22, 20262026 dates published
Santa’s StreetcarBaltimore Streetcar Museum	1901 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD 21211	December 5, December 6, December 12, December 13, December 19, December 20, 20262026 dates published
Holly TrolleyFestNational Capital Trolley Museum	National Capital Trolley Museum, 1313 Bonifant Road, Colesville, MD 20905	Selected Saturdays and Sundays November 28–December 23, 2026; event hours 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.2026 dates published
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideWestern Maryland Scenic Railroad	13 Canal Street, Cumberland, MD 21502	Select departures November 20–December 24, 20262026 dates published

Explore all railways in Maryland →

Your holiday departure

Compare rides in this state

Search rides or townsHoliday experienceRailway typeBooking and schedule status

4 rides match your filters

See these rides on a map

All 4 selected rides at 4 mapped locations, including results on the other pages. Shared depots list every selected program. Pins mark stations or event campuses; route references and inactive events are labeled in the pin details.

Illustrative stock photo: Grand Canyon Railway locomotive 237 decorated with a Christmas wreath — Illustrative stock · 2013 · display crop
Bill Morrow / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Baltimore, MD · Museum train

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

B&O Railroad Museum

2026 dates published

November 28–29; December 5–6, 12–13 and 19–22, 2026

Baltimore’s Polar Express pairs an onboard performance with a North Pole experience at the museum. The current operator name is National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation.

Ticket status and source check

The official page says tickets are now on sale; seat inventory for a selected performance was not checked.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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Illustrative stock photo: Tweetsie Railroad locomotive No. 12 with Christmas lights and a wreath at the station — Illustrative stock · 2018 · display crop
ET&WNC12 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Baltimore, MD · Rail trolley

Santa’s Streetcar

Baltimore Streetcar Museum

2026 dates published

December 5, December 6, December 12, December 13, December 19, December 20, 2026

Baltimore Streetcar Museum lists Santa’s Streetcar over three December weekends. The published event hours describe the visit window, rather than every trolley departure.

Ticket status and source check

The museum’s current season page lists Santa’s Streetcar dates and a January–February 2027 closure. Remaining seats and event-specific ticket choices were not checked.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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Colesville, MD · Rail trolley

Holly TrolleyFest

National Capital Trolley Museum

2026 dates published

Selected Saturdays and Sundays November 28–December 23, 2026; event hours 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Holly TrolleyFest includes a historic streetcar ride on the museum’s woodland railway, with Santa and seasonal activities. Its boarding site is in Maryland.

Ticket status and source check

The public page requires reservations but does not establish current remaining seats or a sale-opening date. Check the official event information.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

Official updates →

Cumberland, MD · Heritage railroad

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

2026 dates published

Select departures November 20–December 24, 2026

A one-hour Polar Express holiday ride from Cumberland, with departure choices controlled by the official booking calendar.

Ticket status and source check

The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

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How we check the holiday guide

Official operator pages support each source review. Licensed Polar Express status and actual rail operation are checked separately. A season window is not a daily timetable, and older fares are not current prices.

We are an independent planning guide. Optional affiliate travel offers appear separately from official train tickets, with a commission disclosure. Historical photographs are captioned with their date; they do not guarantee this season’s train or decorations.