Noon Year’s Eve Party - Southern California Children's Museum
Southern California Children's Museum - 9:00 AM Pick
Southern California Children's Museum - 9:00 AM Pick
Ventura Botanical Gardens: Free Admission on New Year's Day
Ventura Botanical Gardens - 9:00 AM
Ventura Botanical Gardens - 9:00 AM
Oshogatsu (New Year's) in Little Tokyo 2026
Two Locations, including Japanese Village Plaza - 10:45 AM
Two Locations, including Japanese Village Plaza - 10:45 AM
Gingerbread Wonderland
Discovery Cube Orange County - 10:00 AM
Discovery Cube Orange County - 10:00 AM
Annual Lighting of the Bay
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort - 4:00 PM
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort - 4:00 PM
Animal Kids Camp – Vet for a Day
Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center - 8:00 AM
Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center - 8:00 AM
Home Depot Kids Workshops
Home Depot - All Locations - 9:00 AM
Home Depot - All Locations - 9:00 AM
D. Yoder Family Sundays
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens - 10:00 AM
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens - 10:00 AM
Holiday Train Ride at Griffith Park Southern Railroad
Griffith Park and Southern Railroad - 5:00 PM
Griffith Park and Southern Railroad - 5:00 PM
LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow
Los Angeles Zoo - 6:00 PM
Los Angeles Zoo - 6:00 PM
Holidays at Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort - various times
Disneyland Resort - various times
Mission Inn Festival of Lights
Mission Inn Hotel & Spa - various times
Mission Inn Hotel & Spa - various times
Free Day at The Autry
Autry National Center - 1:00 PM
Autry National Center - 1:00 PM
Holiday Train Ride at Griffith Park Southern Railroad
Griffith Park and Southern Railroad - 5:00 PM
Griffith Park and Southern Railroad - 5:00 PM
LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow
Los Angeles Zoo - 6:00 PM
Los Angeles Zoo - 6:00 PM
Colburn School Early Childhood Open House
The Colburn School
Activity Guides
- Beaches & Lakes
- Best Of Lists
- Birthday Parties
- Boats
- Boredom Busters
- Camps
- Childcare
- Christmas/Hanukkah
- City Guides
- City Hacks
- Classes & Enrichment
- Community
- Crafts & Recipes
- Earth Kids
- Easter
- Fairs & Festivals
- Fall Activities
- Family Travel
- Farms & U-Pick
- Free Activities
- GoList
- Halloween
- Holidays
- Hotels & Resorts
- Indoor Activities
- Museums
- News & Openings
- Outdoors
- Parent Talk
- Parks & Playgrounds
- Play Gyms & Sports Centers
- Pools & Spray Parks
- Preschools & Schools
- Restaurants
- Shows
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Special Needs
- Special Occasions
- Sports
- Spring Activities
- STEM
- Stores & Services
- Summer Activities
- Theme & Water Parks
- Trains, Dinos & Heroes
- TV, Film & Movies
- Virtual
- Visitors Guide
- Weekend Events
- Weekend Trips
- Winter Activities
- Zoos & Gardens
The Polar Express Train Ride (Western Maryland Scenic Railroad)
Fri Nov 21, 2025 - Tue Dec 23, 2025
- see all dates
Repeating every week — Sundays, Fridays, and Saturdays through December 23, 2025.
Also on December 22, 2025; December 23, 2025.
Also on December 22, 2025; December 23, 2025.
Various times
Age: All ages
Price: $40 and up; (2 and under) Free
Location:
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
The beloved children's book comes alive on this hour-long train ride to the North Pole, for which passengers are encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas. Listen to the original movie soundtrack while eating cookies and sipping hot chocolate. There is also a reading of the book and singing and dancing to Christmas favorites. Santa makes an appearance and gives each passenger a silver sleigh bell, which—if you know the story—can only be heard by those who believe.
Departures are at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm.
Check out our full list of Christmas trains near DC!
** Activity dates/times are subject to change. Please click through to the activity website to verify.
