# Christmas train rides near Lakeland, 2026

> We found three Christmas trains within a drive of Lakeland with 2026 dates posted: one Santa train, one holiday lights train and one zoo or park holiday train. The closest, Holiday Train at Pasco Celebration of Lights in Shady Hills, is about 55 miles out.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 3 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/lakeland/christmas-trains/
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## Train rides

- **Holiday Train at Pasco Celebration of Lights** at The Concourse, Shady Hills, FL (11919 Alric Pottberg Rd) · about 55 miles from Lakeland. When: Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, Dec 11–13 and Dec 18–20, plus bonus nights Dec 21–22 (Dec 23, 26 and 27 are drive-through only). Time: Gates open 6–9 p.m., weather permitting. Price: Train rides are $4 a rider at the depot; the event page doesn't list a gate price. Type: Lights train. A volunteer-run Christmas night with drive-through lights, Santa and a small holiday train. Official page: https://www.pascocelebrationoflights.com/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **North Pole Express** at Florida Railroad Museum, Parrish, FL · about 60 miles from Lakeland. When: Nov 27 – Dec 22. Time: Select evenings; most at 5:15 and 7:15 p.m. Ages: All ages. Booking: Space is limited and popular departures sell out, the museum says. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.frrm.org/north-pole-express/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Lake Eola Holiday Train** at Lake Eola Park, Orlando, FL (Lake Eola Park, North East Lawn) · about 55 miles from Lakeland. When: Fri, Sat and Sun evenings Dec 4–20. Time: 5:30–9 p.m. Price: Part of the city's free Downtown for the Holidays events; the page doesn't list a ride fee. Type: Zoo & park train. Santa visits the Eola House during Downtown for the Holidays. Official page: https://www.downtownorlando.com/Fun/Things-to-Do/Downtown-for-the-Holidays (checked 2026-10-30)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### Is there a Polar Express train ride near Lakeland in 2026?
Not one we could confirm with 2026 dates on an official page. The closest thing on this page is Holiday Train at Pasco Celebration of Lights, North Pole Express and Lake Eola Holiday Train.

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Lakeland?
North Pole Express (Parrish, FL · about 60 miles from Lakeland): Nov 27 – Dec 22.

### Are there holiday light trains or zoo trains near Lakeland?
Holiday Train at Pasco Celebration of Lights (Shady Hills, FL (11919 Alric Pottberg Rd) · about 55 miles from Lakeland): Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, Dec 11–13 and Dec 18–20, plus bonus nights Dec 21–22 (Dec 23, 26 and 27 are drive-through only), Train rides are $4 a rider at the depot; the event page doesn't list a gate price. Lake Eola Holiday Train (Orlando, FL (Lake Eola Park, North East Lawn) · about 55 miles from Lakeland): Fri, Sat and Sun evenings Dec 4–20, Part of the city's free Downtown for the Holidays events; the page doesn't list a ride fee.

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
Many do. One of the three here asks you to book ahead or warns that seats sell out. Each card says what the operator posts about tickets.

### How do you check these train rides?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).