Secondary Mobile Navigation

christmas train

christmas train logo

The Christmas Train operates rain or shine. The Christmas Train requires reservations. All tickets for our Christmas Train event are SOLD OUT. Check out our Santa’s Village here.

‘Tis the season for Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train. Come with family and friends and take this enchanting ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train will depart from the train station and drop passengers off at the North Pole. Children can share their wish list with Santa and have their photo taken with him too. You may take pictures with your personal camera or you may purchase a photo taken by Irvine Park Railroad.

After visiting with Santa, hop back aboard the train and enjoy the colorful Christmas lights and decorations, as well as the magical “Tunnel of Lights”, on the ride back to Santa’s Village.

Under 24 months FREE – does not require a ticket.
Ticket prices vary and must be purchased online ONLY.

THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN OPERATES:
Nov. 29th – Dec. 23rd, 2024
Weekdays 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Weekends 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

SANTA’S VILLAGE (Open 7 days a week)
Weekdays 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Weekends 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
December 16 – December 23 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

Activity Tickets: $8.00 each
Book of 15 activity tickets: $100.00 ($20.00 savings)
(Activity tickets cannot be used to ride the Christmas Train)

IRVINE REGIONAL PARK ENTRANCE FEE
Weekdays $3.00 per vehicle
Weekends $5.00 per vehicle
Holidays $7.00 per vehicle
Parking FREE after 6:00 pm

WISH LIST FOR SANTA
Children can print and fill out a wish list to share with Santa Claus!

santa at the north pole

PHOTO WITH SANTA

$15.00 per photo

$10.00 for each additional print of the same photo

$15.00 per digital download

Irvine Park Railroad will take a picture of your children with Santa Claus. Each 5″ x 7″ photo will be available for pickup shortly after it is taken.

Please note: You may take pictures with your personal camera at no cost. All customers must ride the train to visit Santa Claus.

 

Santa's Village Activity Tickets

$8 Per Ticket - or - $100 Book of 15 Tickets ($20 Savings)

Mini Diggers at Irvine Park Railroad
Mini Digger

2 Tickets Per Ride

4 minutes of digging time - Ages 5 and up

Irvine Park Railroad │ Train Rides │ Party and Special Event Areas │ Moon Bounce Rentals │ Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Bike and Paddle Boat Rentals │ Pumpkin Patch │ Christmas Train │ Easter Eggstravaganza │ 4th Grade California History Education Program │ Snack Bars │ irvineregionalpark irvineparkfun ocparks trainrides birthdayparties bikerentals paddleboats orangecounty oc familyfun chapmanatjamboree
Moon Bounce

1 Ticket Per Person

10 minutes of jump time

cookies at santa's village
Cookie Decorating

1 Ticket Per Person

640A1199
Ice Fishing

2 Tickets Per Person

Every player wins a prize.

Irvine Park Railroad │ Train Rides │ Party and Special Event Areas │ Moon Bounce Rentals │ Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Bike and Paddle Boat Rentals │ Pumpkin Patch │ Christmas Train │ Easter Eggstravaganza │ 4th Grade California History Education Program │ Snack Bars │ irvineregionalpark irvineparkfun ocparks trainrides birthdayparties bikerentals paddleboats orangecounty oc familyfun chapmanatjamboree
Carnival Games

1 Ticket Per Person

2 Games - Every player wins a prize.

Irvine Park Railroad │ Train Rides │ Party and Special Event Areas │ Moon Bounce Rentals │ Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Bike and Paddle Boat Rentals │ Pumpkin Patch │ Christmas Train │ Easter Eggstravaganza │ 4th Grade California History Education Program │ Snack Bars │ irvineregionalpark irvineparkfun ocparks trainrides birthdayparties bikerentals paddleboats orangecounty oc familyfun chapmanatjamboree
Rudolph Racers

1 Ticket Per Person

Ages 5-7

Blizzard Ball
Blizzard Ball

1 Ticket Small Prize
2 Tickets Large Prize

Every player wins a prize.

christmas2021-17
Craft Corner

1 Ticket Per Person

Event Staff Employee Position
Bank-a-Ball

1 Ticket Small Prize
2 Tickets Large Prize

Every player wins a prize.

Irvine Park Railroad │ Train Rides │ Party and Special Event Areas │ Moon Bounce Rentals │ Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Bike and Paddle Boat Rentals │ Pumpkin Patch │ Christmas Train │ Easter Eggstravaganza │ 4th Grade California History Education Program │ Snack Bars │ irvineregionalpark irvineparkfun ocparks trainrides birthdayparties bikerentals paddleboats orangecounty oc familyfun chapmanatjamboree
Great Food

Prices vary by item

Family having fun at Santa's Village
Photo Opportunities

Free

Santa’s Village is free to enter and located at the train station. Please note that if you were unable to purchase tickets to ride the Christmas Train, you are still able to come out and enjoy these fun holiday activities.

Christmas Train FAQs

Christmas Train tickets must be purchased in advance of riding the Christmas Train and can be purchased online only beginning November 4th, 2024 at 10:00 am. When tickets sell out for a specific date and time, there will be no additional tickets for sale (for that date and time).

On the night that you will be riding the Christmas Train, you will get in line and board the train at within 30 minutes of your ticket time. For example, if your tickets are for 4:00 – 5:00pm, you must be in line for the train by 4:30pm. The train will stop at the North Pole where all passengers will exit the train to visit Santa and take a photo with him.

Up to 8 tickets may be purchased in one transaction if there are sufficient tickets available for purchase for that time slot.

Christmas Train tickets go on sale November 4th, 2024 at 10:00 am and can be purchased online only. Tickets cannot be purchased in person or over the phone. Once tickets are sold out, tickets will not be available for that specific date or time.

Tickets will be emailed directly to you with your order confirmation. Tickets must be presented to board the train. You have the option to print the tickets or show them on your mobile device. If you purchased the tickets as part of a group, and you will arrive at the park at different times, we recommend that you print the tickets and give them to the members of your group prior to arriving at the park.

The train departs the train station several times during each hour. Once in line, you will board the train for the ride to the North Pole where the train will drop off all passengers to visit Santa and take a photo with him. Passengers will then board the train again back to Santa’s Village.

Yes. The Christmas Train will sell out. Once tickets are sold out, you will be unable to purchase tickets to ride the Christmas Train.

Yes. Christmas Train tickets must be purchased in advance to visit Santa and to take a photo with him.

During past holiday seasons, visitors expressed their desire to purchase Christmas Train tickets online to guarantee that they would be able to ride the train on a specific date and at a specific time without having to wait in an excessive line. We listened and visitors can purchase tickets online. The fee is $5.00 per Christmas Train ticket.

A certain number of tickets are sold for each hour (ex. 5:00 – 6:00, 6:00 – 7:00). We ask that you are in line to board the train within 30 minutes of your reservation. For example, if your tickets are for 4:00 to 5:00 PM, you must be in line for the train by 4:30 PM. The train departs several times during that hour and you are guaranteed to board the train any time within that hour. Please note that due to circumstances beyond our control, you may board the train just past the hour for which you purchased tickets.

Santa’s Village
Santa’s Village operates from November 29th through December 30th (closed December 24th and 25th). Families can enjoy festive activities such as ice fishing, cookie decorating, mini diggers, photo opportunities, and much more. No reservations are required for Santa’s Village. Santa’s Village is located behind the train station. Tickets may be purchased to enjoy the activities in Santa’s Village upon arrival.

Christmas Train
The Christmas Train operates from November 29th through December 23rd, 2024. Guests must purchase tickets online in advance starting November 4th, 2024 at 10:00 am. With a reservation, guests will depart from the train station on the Christmas Train and will be dropped off at the North Pole. Children can visit with Santa and have their photo taken. Guests will then board the train again to return to Santa’s Village near the train station. Reservations are required to ride the Christmas Train and to visit with Santa. Tickets for the Christmas Train will sell out.

Train of Lights
The Train of Lights operates from December 26th through December 30th. Guests must purchase tickets online in advance starting Monday, December 9th, 2024 at 10:00 AM. With a reservation, guests will hop aboard the train at the train station and ride through thousands of enchanting lights throughout the 1-mile loop. The Train of Lights does not make any additional stops during its route. After the ride, guests will then drop passengers back off at Santa’s Village near the train station. Reservations are required for the Train of Lights. Tickets for the Train of Lights will sell out.

No. Tickets for the Christmas Train are different tickets and must be purchased online and in advance of when you would like to visit. Regular train tickets, discounts, coupons, and special promotions are not valid for Christmas Train tickets.

No. Dogs and other animals are not allowed on the Christmas Train. Dogs are welcome in other areas of Irvine Regional Park while kept on a 6′ leash.

The Christmas Train runs rain or shine. Irvine Park Railroad does our very best to make sure most areas are covered from inclement weather. We recommend bringing umbrellas or rain jackets as the train is not fully enclosed.

Should the Christmas Train close for any unforeseen reason, you will be contacted by email on the day that you are scheduled to ride the Christmas Train.

Tickets are valid only for the date and time your purchased. Christmas Train tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable to another day or timeslot. Unused Christmas Train tickets may be exchanged for activity tickets at the train station for equal value of the unused Christmas Train ticket(s).

No. Please check the train ride page for the regular train hours of operation for the month of December.

No. Irvine Park Railroad does not sell Christmas trees.

No. Private parties are not allowed at the Christmas Train.

For private parties, consider reserving a Party Pavilion located adjacent to the train station and Christmas Train area. Additionally, other locations inside of the park are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Picnic benches around the train station are reserved for visitors who purchase food from the snack bar.

Yes. There is a full-service snack bar located at the train station that serves both hot and cold food.

Yes. Please check this page for hours.

No. Professional and/or staged photography and/or videography is prohibited at the Christmas Train.

Other activities At the park

while you’re here

Single Surrey Bike Rentals
Wheel Fun Rentals® at irvine park bike rentals

Open Daily at 10:00 am
Price depends on bike type: $12 - $42/per hour

Enjoy biking around beautiful Irvine Regional Park on our single surrey, double surrey, chopper, quad sport, or single rider bikes.

Paddle Boat
Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Paddle Boats

Open Daily at 10:00 am
Price: $22.00 per half hour

Have fun taking the paddle boats onto the lake. Older children and adults can paddle at your leisure while enjoying the great lakeside scenery.

Irvine Park Railroad │ Train Rides │ Party and Special Event Areas │ Moon Bounce Rentals │ Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Bike and Paddle Boat Rentals │ Pumpkin Patch │ Christmas Train │ Easter Eggstravaganza │ 4th Grade California History Education Program │ Snack Bars │ irvineregionalpark irvineparkfun ocparks trainrides birthdayparties bikerentals paddleboats orangecounty oc familyfun chapmanatjamboree
Pony Rides

Tuesday - Sunday: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
CLOSED MONDAYS
$8.00 per child

Irvine Park Railroad does not own or operate the pony rides. Irvine Park Railroad tickets are not valid for the pony rides. Pony ride tickets must be purchased at the pony ride ticket booth.

Park Sign
Orange County Zoo

Weekend: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Weekday: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
$2.00 per person, ages 2 years and younger enter FREE

Visit the Orange County Zoo that over 100 animals native to Southern California call home. There is a petting zoo, too, an ideal activity for young children. The zoo is a 5-minute walk from Santa's Village.

Refund Policy: Irvine Park Railroad does not offer exchanges or refunds for Christmas Train tickets purchased. If the Christmas Train closes due to unforeseen circumstances, you will be notified by email on the date of the event. Additionally, there will be a message on our web site as well as on our Facebook page. The Christmas Train runs rain or shine.

All prices and information are subject to change without notice.

If you plan on riding the Christmas Train with family and friends, we strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets via one transaction. There is a maximum of 8 tickets per order. If you purchased the tickets as part of a group, and you will arrive at the park at different times, we recommend that you print the tickets and give them to the members of your group prior to arriving at the park.

Professional Photography: Professional and/or commercial photography (including staged photography) and/or videography is strictly prohibited.

When visiting the Christmas Train, remember to dress warmly, bring a camera, and arrive early to help avoid crowds.

Save