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An Illinois Christmas Train Ride In Aurora!

Published: November 14, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Blackberry Farm in Aurora, Illinois, is one of those places where living history and family fun blend so seamlessly that it’s hard to tell where the museum ends and the amusement park begins. Set on 54 scenic acres around Lake Gregory, the park is operated by the Fox Valley Park District and has grown from a modest “Pioneer Park” in the late 1960s into a full-fledged living history museum and regional attraction.

Today, Blackberry Farm is best known for its costumed interpreters, hands-on historical exhibits, and its charming narrow-gauge train that circles the lake. But when the Christmas season arrives, that little train takes on a starring role as the “Holiday Express” (sometimes simply called the Holiday Train), carrying visitors through a winter wonderland of lights, music, and festive decorations.

A living history village on the prairie

Blackberry Farm traces its roots to the Fox Valley Park District’s effort to preserve local history as the region around Aurora rapidly developed. The district acquired farmland here in the 1960s and opened “Pioneer Park” in 1969 as a blend of recreation area and historic site. In the 1980s it was renamed Blackberry Farm Pioneer Village, reflecting its growing focus on interpreting 19th-century life in the Fox River Valley.

Much of the park is arranged as a small frontier community. Visitors can step inside a one-room schoolhouse, a log cabin farmhouse, a blacksmith shop, and an 1840s Aurora home, all furnished to represent everyday life in the mid-1800s. Interpreters demonstrate traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, weaving, sewing, pottery, and spinning, giving guests a tangible sense of how much effort it took to run a household or farm before modern conveniences.

Blackberry Farm also includes several museum complexes. The Carriage House displays a collection of horse-drawn carriages, sleighs, and commercial vehicles. Nearby, the Farm Museum houses historic tools and implements, showcasing the evolution of agriculture and early industry in the Midwest.

An “Early Streets” area re-creates a late-Victorian village streetscape with storefronts such as a pharmacy, general store, and toy shop, helping visitors imagine a small Illinois town at the turn of the 20th century.

The park’s landscape is just as much a draw. Blackberry Farm sits amid rolling lawns, mature trees, and water features, including a small lake used for paddleboats. An arboretum-like setting with more than 200 varieties of trees and floral plantings creates a picturesque backdrop for weddings, picnics, and family gatherings.

Rides, activities, and family fun

While it’s first and foremost a living history site, Blackberry Farm is equally beloved for its classic family attractions. Regular admission typically includes unlimited rides on the train, carousel, hay wagon, paddleboats, ponies, and pedal tractors—making it an easy all-day outing for families with young children.

The park’s signature attraction is its miniature train, a bright red, steam-style locomotive with open coaches that circles Lake Gregory on a narrow-gauge track. During the regular season, it’s a relaxing tour of the grounds, passing historic buildings, shady groves, and waterfront views. The carousel, classic playgrounds, and visits with farm animals round out the experience.

Between the historic village, hands-on exhibits, and amusement-style rides, Blackberry Farm is designed to be both educational and fun. School groups visit for curriculum-based field trips, families come for picnics and birthday parties, and couples even book the barns and pavilions for rustic-chic weddings with the park as a scenic backdrop.

From Pioneer Park to holiday tradition

Over the decades, the Fox Valley Park District has invested in expanding Blackberry Farm’s programming, turning it into a year-round destination. Seasonal events range from fall harvest festivals to summer concerts—but none has captured the community’s imagination quite like the Holiday Express. Launched in 2006, this Christmas-themed event has become a cherished local tradition, drawing families from across the western suburbs.

Fox Valley Park District

During "Holiday Express," Blackberry Farm is transformed after dark into a glittering winter wonderland. Thousands of twinkling lights drape buildings, trees, and fences; holiday decorations brighten the historic village; and festive music fills the air. The effect is often compared to a visit to the North Pole—without leaving Aurora.

All aboard the Holiday Train

At the heart of the event is the Holiday Express train, often referred to simply as the Holiday Train. The familiar red locomotive and its coaches are decked out for the season and reimagined as a “train to the North Pole,” carrying passengers on an eight-minute loop around Lake Gregory through illuminated scenes and glowing trees.

Unlike some ticketed Christmas attractions that assign departure times, Blackberry Farm’s Holiday Express runs the train continuously throughout event hours. Guests can board whenever they’re ready and, if they’re willing to rejoin the queue, ride as many times as they like. This relaxed approach helps keep the evening flexible for families with young children.

The train is just one part of the experience. A hay wagon ride offers a slower, open-air tour of the park, while walking paths lead visitors past light displays and decorated historic buildings. The ride schedule is typically concentrated on December weekends, with special operating hours and a sensory-friendly night early in the run that features a lower-sensory environment for guests who benefit from reduced noise and crowds.

What guests can expect during Holiday Express

A visit to Holiday Express is designed to last about 1½ to 2 hours, giving families enough time to enjoy the train, explore the grounds, and take part in a variety of holiday activities. Blackberry Farm’s own event information and regional tourism listings highlight several key stops:

• North Pole Depot: The boarding area for the Holiday Express train, dressed up as a North Pole station. Staff help load and unload the train as it runs continuously through the evening.
• North Pole Oasis (Carriage Museum): Inside the Carriage House, Santa Claus greets visitors and poses for photos. It’s the spot where kids can share their wish lists and parents can capture the moment.
• Candy Cane Village (Adventure Playground): Weather permitting, the playground and surrounding area are lit with festive displays, giving children room to run and play between rides and indoor stops.
• A Huntoon Christmas: This exhibit area features holiday displays and a Holiday Express–themed coloring activity, offering a warm indoor break from the winter air.
• Gift Shop: Stocked with vintage toys, seasonal items, and stocking stuffers, the shop provides a chance to pick up a small souvenir or a last-minute gift.

Tickets are sold in advance for specific dates, typically online through the park district’s website or partners. Pricing in recent seasons has been around $10 per person, with children two and under often admitted free, though visitors should always check current details before planning their trip.

Event hours usually run Friday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday afternoons and evenings—often 2 to 7 p.m.—to let families with younger children experience the park before bedtime while still seeing the lights after dark. The park operates rain, snow, or shine, so winter-ready clothing is a must.

Planning a visit

Blackberry Farm is located at 100 S. Barnes Road in Aurora, just west of the Fox River. Ample parking is available onsite, and the park’s modest size makes it easy to navigate on foot, even with strollers or grandparents in tow.

For the best Holiday Express experience, guests are encouraged to:

• Arrive after dark if seeing the lights at their brightest is a priority; park information notes that displays are most dramatic after 4 p.m.
• Dress in layers and bring hats and gloves, since much of the evening is spent outdoors waiting for the train or exploring the grounds.
• Allow time for both rides and exhibits, especially if children want multiple trips on the train.
• Consider sensory-friendly night if someone in the group prefers a quieter, less stimulating environment.

Outside the holiday season, Blackberry Farm reverts to its warm-weather personality—a blend of historic village, amusement rides, and peaceful green space. But for a few weekends each December, the park’s little train becomes something more: a rolling symbol of community tradition, childhood wonder, and small-town Christmas magic in the heart of suburban Illinois.  To learn more about this event please click here to visit the farm's website.