We found three Christmas trains within a drive of Fresno with 2026 dates posted: one Polar Express ride, one holiday lights train and one zoo or park holiday train. The closest, Holiday Express train at ZooLights, is in Fresno. 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.
Zoo & park train · to Jan 3 · Fresno, CA (Roeding Park)27NovFriTHE POLAR EXPRESS Train RidePolar Express · to Dec 20 · Jamestown, CA · about 90 miles away29NovSunPajama Christmas on the Wahtoke RailroadLights train · to Dec 23 · Reedley, CA (6943 S. Reed Ave) · about 20 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.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo · Fresno, CA (Roeding Park)
Good to know: The holiday train loops through the lit-up zoo. Santa is in his workshop through Dec 23.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park · Jamestown, CA · about 90 miles away
Hillcrest Tree Farm · Reedley, CA (6943 S. Reed Ave) · about 20 miles away
Good to know: Steam train rides through the farm's lights. Pajamas encouraged.
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 FresnoEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in FresnoEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in FresnoFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in FresnoIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in FresnoBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in FresnoParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Christmas parades in FresnoParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in FresnoBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in FresnoChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in FresnoDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Jamestown, CA · about 90 miles away: Nov 27 – Dec 20. Price: Coach $85 per person. Book ahead: the operator sells these as timed tickets or warns they sell out.
Pajama Christmas on the Wahtoke Railroad (Reedley, CA (6943 S. Reed Ave) · about 20 miles away): Next: Sun Nov 29, Mon Nov 30, Tue Dec 1, Wed Dec 2 and 20 more, $40 per person age 2 and up. Holiday Express train at ZooLights (Fresno, CA (Roeding Park)): Nov 19–25, Nov 27–28, Dec 3–6, Dec 11–13, Dec 16–23, Dec 26–30 and Jan 1–3, ZooLights $19 adults, $14 kids 2–11 ($17 and $13 for members); the train costs extra and is sold that night.
Many do. Two of the three here ask you to book ahead or warn that seats sell out. 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 29, 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 Fresno that weekend, holiday trains included.
