One of our favorite holiday traditions at Allaire is back. The Pine Creek Railroad has posted its 2026 dates for the Santa Claus Express: decorated trains rolling through the woods of the park, with a visit from Santa on board.
First, the one thing you need to know: tickets are sold in person only. You can't buy them online, so stop by the ticket office ahead of time if you want to lock in your day.
Tickets
- $7.00 per person
- In advance, in person only, at the railroad's ticket office, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM to 4 PM, starting Sunday, November 1
- Also on sale during the event
When the trains run
Trains leave every half hour, rain, snow or shine.
Thanksgiving weekend (day trains only)
- Friday, November 27, Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29: 11 AM to 4 PM
December Saturdays (day and night trains)
- December 5, 12 and 19
- Day trains: 11 AM to 4 PM
- Night trains: 6 to 7:30 PM
December Sundays (day trains only)
- December 6, 13 and 20: 11 AM to 4 PM
If you can only make one, we would go for a night train on a December Saturday. The decorated train after dark is the one the kids remember. They are only on those three Saturdays, so plan ahead.
Who runs it
People often think the railroad and Historic Allaire Village are one thing, but they are two separate non-profits. The Santa Claus Express is run by the New Jersey Museum of Transportation, not the Village, so buy your tickets at the railroad's own ticket office. For anything we have not covered here, check the museum's Facebook page or njmt.org before you go. We are just fans, and they have the final word.
Make a day of it
The Village has its own Christmas events this season, with its own tickets: the Christmas Lantern Tours, The Holiday Evening Stroll and Christmas at Allaire. Pair one with a train ride, or get a walk in first on the trails in Allaire State Park. Our full Christmas at Allaire guide is coming soon.
Support the railroad
The New Jersey Museum of Transportation is a non-profit run entirely by volunteers, with no state or federal funding, so every ticket you buy helps keep Pine Creek's trains running.
