We found three Christmas trains within a drive of Columbia with 2026 dates posted: two Santa trains and one holiday lights train. The closest, Fireflies Express at Fireflies Holiday Lights, is in Columbia. Each card has the dates, times, the ages it suits, the price as the operator lists it and whether you need to book ahead.
By date
Filter by kind of ride, then tap one for dates, ages, price and how to book.
Lights train · to Jan 3 · Columbia, SC4DecFriSanta's Twilight ExpressSanta train · to Dec 19 · Winnsboro, SC · about 25 miles away5DecSatSanta's North Pole ExpressSanta train · to Dec 19 · Winnsboro, SC · about 25 miles awayNothing matches that filter yet.
Train rides
Dates, ages, price and booking notes come from each railroad, zoo or park’s own page. The area line shows where you board.
Segra Park · Columbia, SC
Good to know: A small train that loops through the holiday lights at the ballpark. Babies under 1 ride free with a paid adult. Closed on Thanksgiving Day.
South Carolina Railroad Museum · Winnsboro, SC · about 25 miles away
South Carolina Railroad Museum · Winnsboro, SC · about 25 miles away
Know one we missed?Send us the railroad’s or venue’s page and we’ll check the dates and add it.Suggest a trainBefore you go
TicketsBook as soon as you canPolar Express and Santa trains often sell out weeks ahead, weekend evenings first.
DressPajamas are part of itMany Polar Express rides invite kids to come in pajamas. Bring a warm layer for the platform.
TimingPick a ride before bedtimeEarly departures are easier with toddlers. Late lights trains are better for older kids.Keep planning
November: things to do in ColumbiaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ColumbiaEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ColumbiaFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in ColumbiaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in ColumbiaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in ColumbiaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Christmas parades in ColumbiaParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in ColumbiaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ColumbiaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in ColumbiaWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
This week in ColumbiaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
Not one we could confirm with 2026 dates on an official page. The closest thing on this page is Fireflies Express at Fireflies Holiday Lights, Santa's Twilight Express and Santa's North Pole Express.
Santa's Twilight Express (Winnsboro, SC · about 25 miles away): Next: Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Fri Dec 11, Sat Dec 12 and 2 more. Santa's North Pole Express (Winnsboro, SC · about 25 miles away): Sat Dec 5, Sat Dec 12 and Sat Dec 19.
Fireflies Express at Fireflies Holiday Lights (Columbia, SC): Nov 20 – Jan 3, $5 per rider.
None on this page warns about it right now. Each card says what the operator posts about tickets.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Columbia that weekend, holiday trains included.
