What is different this year?
This year, after the train ride, everyone will head back to the Museum for a continued party! The train will still include the story, some music, and Santa. However, at the Museum, we will have cookies, milk, and hot chocolate! Other snacks will be available as well.
Also at the Museum, there will be crafts, a special scavenger hunt, music, historic cartoons and more chances of photographs with Santa in front of our “Trees through the years” exhibit as a background.
What is the schedule of events?
The train ride is around 1.5 hours, then we will all walk or drive over to the Museum for another 1.5 of fun! See the weekday and weekend schedule below:
Weekday trip tentative schedule:
9:45A arrival at train station
10:00A train departs Wheaton to Elburn
11:30A train arrives back in Wheaton, families walk or drive the 4 blocks to the Museum for more fun with Santa!
1:00P Party ends, feel free to stay and look around the Museum or grab some lunch downtown!
Weekend trip tentative schedule:
9:15A arrival at train station
9:30A train departs Wheaton to Elburn
11:00A train arrives back in Wheaton, families walk or drive the 4 blocks to the Museum for more fun with Santa!
12:30P Party ends, feel free to stay and look around the Museum or grab some lunch downtown!
Are there tips for purchasing tickets?
Be ready a few minutes before 8A and on the Museum’s website or Eventbrite website where tickets are purchased. Click on the link at 8A and refresh often right at 8A to have the best chance. Tickets sell out in minutes due to the popularity of the event and the fewer offerings of similar events throughout the Chicagoland area in the past few years. If you already have an Eventbrite login, please be logged in to increase the chances of the software auto-fill on some of the questions. We need to know the ages of riders and any allergies, but if that changes or you forget to enter it, you can email that to us. You do have 15 minutes to fill out the information, during which time the tickets you requested will be held for you.
Please remember to be kind to staff, we are all trying to make your family’s Christmas event a success. We do not have control over the demand for the event or Metra’s policies.
Can I get more tickets if I bought the wrong number?
Unfortunately, requests for more tickets cannot be honored due to the capacity restrictions of Metra. Safety is our number one priority and we will adhere to all of Metra’s safety standards including capacity restrictions.
Will my infant child need a ticket?
Children under 1 year old / 12 months old do not need a ticket. Those under 1 year old / 12 months old will not get a goodie bag unless a ticket is purchased. Infants must be listed during registration—capacity limits are in place with Metra and all people must be accounted for onboard.
Are there refunds?
There are no refunds, but tickets are transferrable. If you transfer tickets to another family, please let Michelle Podkowa know immediately at: [email protected].
My child/I have allergies, will the cookies have allergens?
Special cookies will be purchased for those who have allergies (usually Made Good or Allergy Smart cookie brands). Allergies must be listed when purchasing tickets. Please reach out to Michelle Podkowa at [email protected] with questions or if new allergies are discovered.
Where do we meet?
All participants meet at the Wheaton Train Station (402 W Front Street) on the South side of the tracks. Please check in at the time for your train listed above. The trains arrive 10-15 minutes after the time listed, refunds will not be given if you miss the train.
Afterwards, we will walk or drive back to the Museum (102 East Wesley Street) to enjoy the second part of the event with Santa, historic holiday cartoons, crafts, a special scavenger hunt, more snacks and hot chocolate.
Where should we park?
City street parking will be available on Liberty and Front Streets. Be sure to obey all laws and posted signs.
There is also a parking garage on Front Street between Hale and Wheaton Avenue (north of the tracks). Do not park at the private parking garages, these are permit-only parking and cars will be towed.
More information on parking can be found here: https://www.wheaton.il.us/394/Commuter-Parking
Please be sure to pay by app if the spot is a paid spot.
More Information:
For more information, call 630-510-4941 or email [email protected].
