# Christmas train rides near Nashville, 2026

> In 2026, Santa train rides near Nashville run Nov 28 through Dec 19. Santa Express at Tennessee Central Railway Museum starts Nov 28. Under 2 free on a lap. Polar Express Storytime at the Historic RailPark at Historic RailPark & Train Museum starts Dec 1 and admission is free. All ages.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 3 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/christmas-trains/
- Santa visits (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/santa/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/llms.txt

## What to know

- **Dancing Lights of TRAINS! at Holiday LIGHTS**: Nov 20 through Jan 3 (Nashville, TN (Cheekwood)). No pricing information.
- **Santa Express**: Nov 28 through Dec 19 (Nashville, TN). Ages: Under 2 free on a lap. No pricing information.
- **Polar Express Storytime at the Historic RailPark**: Dec 1 through Dec 10 (Bowling Green, KY · about 65 miles away). Ages: All ages. Tickets: Free.

## Train rides

- **Santa Express** at Tennessee Central Railway Museum, Nashville, TN. When: Sat Nov 28, Sat Dec 5, Sat Dec 12 and Sat Dec 19. Time: 1.5-hour round trip. Ages: Under 2 free on a lap; 2 and up need a seat. Booking: All seats are reserved, and the dome car's 20 seats go first. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.tcry.org/train-rides (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Polar Express Storytime at the Historic RailPark** at Historic RailPark & Train Museum, Bowling Green, KY · about 65 miles away. When: Next: Tue Dec 1, Wed Dec 2, Thu Dec 3, Mon Dec 7 and 3 more. Time: Storytimes every half hour, 4:30–7 p.m. Price: Free. Ages: All ages. Booking: Free tickets (limit 6). General public registration opened Nov. 3 at 9 a.m.; members registered Oct. 30–Nov. 2. Type: Santa train. The story is read aboard the Duncan Hines Diner Railcar with cocoa and cookies. Kids leave through the Presidential Railcar and get a quick hello with Santa. Pajamas are encouraged. Official page: https://www.historicrailpark.com/event/polar-express-storytime/ (checked 2026-11-04)

## Model-train holiday displays

- **Dancing Lights of TRAINS! at Holiday LIGHTS** at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Nashville, TN (Cheekwood). When: Nov 20 – Jan 3. Time: Evenings 4:30–10 p.m.; daytime 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Booking: Reserve tickets ahead. Type: Model trains. Cheekwood's permanent TRAINS! garden exhibit gets lit up for the holidays. Official page: https://cheekwood.org/calendar-events/holiday-lights/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6. Lists refresh Monday and Thursday. The email goes out Thursday evening.
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## FAQ

### Is there a Polar Express train ride near Nashville in 2026?
Not one we could confirm with 2026 dates on an official page. The closest thing on this page is Santa Express and Polar Express Storytime at the Historic RailPark.

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Nashville?
Santa Express (Nashville, TN): Sat Nov 28, Sat Dec 5, Sat Dec 12 and Sat Dec 19. Polar Express Storytime at the Historic RailPark (Bowling Green, KY · about 65 miles away): Next: Tue Dec 1, Wed Dec 2, Thu Dec 3, Mon Dec 7 and 3 more.

### Where can kids see a model train holiday display near Nashville?
Dancing Lights of TRAINS! at Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens: Nov 20 – Jan 3.

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
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.

### Which Christmas train near Nashville is shortest, cheapest, or easiest with a toddler?
Best for under-3s: Santa Express, Under 2 free on a lap. Those come from the ride length, price and age notes on this page.

### 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/).