Holiday Train Shows in NYC & the Metro Area 2026

Model trains are a classic part of a New York Christmas. Here are the best holiday train displays and rides in the metro area for 2026.

2026 Dates

Model Train Displays

• NYBG Holiday Train Show — nearly 200 plant-made landmarks; new One Vanderbilt replica.
• Grand Central Holiday Train Show — free, compact and perfect for a quick stop.
• Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers (Levittown, LI) — holiday open houses of Long Island’s largest operating 3-rail O-gauge layout on December weekends.
• Allaire Community Farm (Wall, NJ) — model trains are part of its old-fashioned Christmas on the farm.

Holiday Train Rides

• Polar Express Trolley, Calverton.
• Danbury Railway Museum (CT) — Santa train rides on December weekends.
• Bronx Zoo and LuminoCity — holiday trains inside light shows (Bronx Zoo, LuminoCity).

Why Trains at Christmas?

Model trains became a Christmas tradition in the early 20th century, when toy train makers, including New York–based Lionel, marketed trains as holiday gifts and department stores ran elaborate train displays in their windows. Families set up layouts beneath the tree, and the tradition lives on in today’s holiday train shows.

Tips for Train-Loving Kids

• Visit the free Grand Central show on a weekday morning for an up-close look.
• At NYBG, book a timed ticket and allow time for kids to watch the trains circle several times.
• Look for the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn, housed in a decommissioned 1930s subway station with vintage subway cars you can explore.
• On the subway, look out for the MTA’s vintage “Holiday Nostalgia Train,” which has run on select December weekends in recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best holiday train show in NYC?

The NYBG Holiday Train Show in the Bronx is the biggest and best known. The Grand Central show is a smaller free option.