2026 Christmas & holiday train guide
Compare 2 reviewed holiday programs in Michigan, including their boarding towns, departure announcements and ticket status.
2026 dates published
Plan this holiday ride →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.
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 ride | Where to board | Schedule & tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas ExpressLittle River Railroad | Little River Railroad, 29 West Park Avenue, Coldwater, MI 49036 | December 5–6 and 12–13, 20262026 dates published |
| North Pole ExpressSteam Railroading Institute | Steam Railroading Institute, 405 South Washington Street, Owosso, MI 48867 | Selected Friday–Sunday trains November 20–December 20, 20262026 dates published |
Your holiday departure
2 rides match your filters
All 2 selected rides at 2 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.
Coldwater, MI · Heritage railroad
Little River Railroad
2026 dates published
December 5–6 and 12–13, 2026
Little River Railroad’s 2026 schedule includes Christmas Express trains with Santa in December.
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Source reviewed 2026-10-26
Owosso, MI · Heritage railroad
Steam Railroading Institute
2026 dates published
Selected Friday–Sunday trains November 20–December 20, 2026
Owosso’s North Pole Express travels to Ashley’s Country Christmas and back. The operator reported sold-out status in our October 12 review and sells tickets through its own website.
The current page has both Tickets Available and Tickets sale date coming soon wording. Current sale status and remaining seats are unresolved; no whole-season sold-out claim is made.
Source reviewed 2026-10-26
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.
