Wisconsin Polar Express Train Rides: A Complete Guide
Last revised: January 31, 2025
By: Adam Burns
There is only one location in Wisconsin hosting official "The Polar Express" train rides, the National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon, located not far from Green Bay. The organization also has a very nice collection of preserved locomotives and other railroad equipment, much of which is housed indoors.
The NRM also hosts train rides throughout the year, including "The Polar Express." More information about the museum may be found further below.
Other Activities
The Wisconsin Dells
The Wisconsin Dells transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season, with many festive activities for the whole family to enjoy. Visitors can enjoy holiday-themed light shows, take a trolley tour of the area, or enjoy one of the many holiday-themed shows.
Ice Skating
Many cities in Wisconsin have outdoor ice skating rinks, which are perfect for a fun family activity during the winter season. Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park, for example, has a popular ice rink that is open from November through February and is surrounded by festive holiday decorations.
Christmas Markets
Wisconsin is home to many Christmas markets, which offer visitors the chance to shop for unique holiday gifts and enjoy festive food and drinks. The Christkindlmarket in Milwaukee is a popular choice, featuring German-inspired food and drink, live music, and crafts.
Milwaukee County Zoo
The Milwaukee County Zoo transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season, featuring a spectacular display of over 2 million lights. Visitors can walk through the zoo and enjoy the holiday light displays, visit with Santa and his reindeer, and enjoy other festive activities.
Rotary Botanical Gardens
(Janesville): The Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville features a stunning holiday light display, with over 500,000 lights and holiday-themed displays. Visitors can enjoy a walk through the gardens and take in the beautiful sights and sounds of the holiday season.
Lambeau Field in Green Bay
Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, is known for its impressive light displays during the holiday season. Visitors can drive or walk through the stadium parking lot and view the spectacular holiday lights and decorations.
The Oshkosh Celebration of Lights
The Oshkosh Celebration of Lights is a spectacular holiday light display featuring over one million lights and more than 100 lighted holiday displays. Visitors can drive through the park and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the holiday season.
The WPS Garden of Lights in Green Bay
The WPS Garden of Lights at the Green Bay Botanical Garden is a popular holiday attraction, featuring over 300,000 lights and holiday-themed displays. Visitors can enjoy a walk through the gardens and take in the beautiful sights and sounds of the holiday season.
Rotary Lights
(La Crosse): Rotary Lights is one of the largest holiday light displays in the Midwest, featuring over 4 million lights in Riverside Park. Visitors can enjoy the light displays, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, and visit with Santa Claus.
Great Lakes Aquarium
(Duluth): The Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth hosts the largest indoor light display in the state, featuring thousands of twinkling lights and holiday-themed displays. Visitors can walk through the aquarium and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Country Christmas at the Ingleside Hotel
Pewaukee: Country Christmas is a drive-through holiday light display featuring over 1 million lights at the Ingleside Hotel. Visitors can drive through the 1.5-mile display, which features holiday music and animated displays.
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival is a month-long celebration of the holiday season, featuring holiday light displays, live entertainment, and other festive activities. Visitors can enjoy a Jingle Bus tour through downtown Milwaukee to see the light displays.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
(Madison): Olbrich Botanical Gardens features a holiday light display called "Gleam," featuring thousands of lights and holiday-themed displays. Visitors can enjoy a walk through the gardens and take in the beautiful holiday scenery.
2025 Dates Will Be Included As They Become Available!
Overview
National Railroad Museum
(Ashwaubenon): The National Railroad Museum located in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin (near Green Bay) was founded in 1956 by a group of train enthusiasts who wished to launch a museum on a national scope.
Their first addition was Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261, which has since been sold to the "Friends Of The 261." This organization has transformed the steam locomotive into a nationally recognized icon as it annually hosts excursions across the Midwest.
The National Railroad Museum (NRM) earned its "national" moniker in 1958 when Congress recognize it as the country's official railroad museum and provided it with needed funding.
Today, NRM features an impressive list of preserved locomotives, some of which are featured inside climate-controlled buildings. Among their many steam locomotives on display is London & North Eastern 4-6-2 #60008, a famous Class A-4 from Britain.
The list of things available are many including train rides, corporate events, theater presentations, group tours, weddings, depots, and more. NRM is among the nation's best railroad museums and well worth the visit.
They will host official The Polar Express train rides from mid-November through early December. To learn more please visit their website.
The Polar Express Dates:
Recent Articles
-
West Pointe Route Timetables (August, 1952)
May 11, 26 08:23 PM
Included here is the complete West Point Route timetables, including the Georgia Railroad, from the August, 1952 edition of the "Official Guide." -
Virginian Railway Timetables (August, 1952)
May 11, 26 04:27 PM
Included here is the Virginian Railway's complete system map and brief timetable listing from the August, 1952 edition of the "Official Guide." -
RF&P Railroad Timetables (August, 1952)
May 11, 26 02:21 PM
Featured here is the Richmond, Frederickburg & Potomac's public timetables from the August, 1952 edition of the "Official Guide." -
Missouri 'Wine Tasting' Train Rides
May 11, 26 12:20 PM
The fusion of scenic vistas, historical charm, and exquisite wines is beautifully encapsulated in Missouri's wine tasting train experiences. -
Minnesota 'Wine Tasting' Train Rides
May 11, 26 12:19 PM
This article takes you on a journey through Minnesota's wine tasting trains, offering a unique perspective on this novel adventure. -
Alabama - Whiskey Tasting - Train Rides
May 11, 26 12:14 PM
With a little planning, you can build a memorable whiskey-and-rails getaway in the Heart of Dixie. -
Washington 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 11, 26 12:11 PM
This article delves into what makes murder mystery dinner train rides in Washington State such a captivating experience. -
Nevada 'Murder Mystery' Train Rides
May 11, 26 12:09 PM
Seamlessly blending the romance of train travel with the allure of a theatrical whodunit, these excursions promise suspense, delight, and an unforgettable journey through Nevada’s heart. -
Kentucky 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 11, 26 12:06 PM
In the realm of unique travel experiences, Kentucky offers an enchanting twist that entices both locals and tourists alike: murder mystery dinner train rides. -
Original Norfolk Southern Timetables (January, 1930)
May 11, 26 10:06 AM
Featured here is the complete timetable listing of the original Norfolk Southern Railway from the January, 1930 edition of the "Official Guide." -
Atlantic and Danville Railway: Serving Southern VA
May 11, 26 09:50 AM
The Atlantic and Danville Railway (reporting mark AD), often referred to in its early years as the Atlantic & Danville Railroad, stands as a quintessential example of late-19th-century American railro… -
Interstate Railroad Timetables (January, 1910)
May 11, 26 09:25 AM
Featured here is the Interstate Railroad's very brief timetable listing from the January, 1910 edition of the "Official Guide Of The Railways." -
Virginia "Whiskey Tasting" Train Rides
May 10, 26 01:01 PM
Among the Virginia Scenic Railway's most popular specialty excursions is the “Bourbon & BBQ” tasting train, an adults-oriented rail journey that pairs scenic views of the Shenandoah Valley wit… -
Tennessee 'Whiskey Tasting' Train Rides
May 10, 26 12:58 PM
Here’s what to know, who to watch, and how to plan an unforgettable rail-and-whiskey experience in the Volunteer State. -
New York 'Dinner Train' Rides In The Adirondacks
May 10, 26 12:51 PM
Operating over a restored segment of the former New York Central’s Adirondack Division, the Adirondack Railroad has steadily rebuilt both track and public interest in passenger rail across the region. -
West Virginia 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 10, 26 12:45 PM
For those looking to combine the allure of a train ride with an engaging whodunit, the murder mystery dinner trains offer a uniquely thrilling experience. -
Kansas 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 10, 26 12:26 PM
Kansas, known for its sprawling wheat fields and rich history, hides a unique gem that promises both intrigue and culinary delight—murder mystery dinner trains. -
Florida 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 10, 26 12:21 PM
Florida, known for its vibrant culture, dazzling beaches, and thrilling theme parks, also offers a unique blend of mystery and fine dining aboard its murder mystery dinner trains. -
Florida East Coast Timetables (January, 1930)
May 09, 26 11:55 PM
Featured here is the Florida East Coast Railway's listing in the "Official Guide" from January, 1930 when the system still reached Key West. -
Clinchfield Railroad Timetables (August, 1952)
May 09, 26 01:28 PM
Featured here is the Clinchfield's brief listing from the August, 1952 edition of the "Official Guide Of The Railways." -
California 'Beer Tasting' Train Rides
May 09, 26 10:58 AM
While the Niles Canyon Railway is known for family-friendly weekend excursions and seasonal classics, one of its most popular grown-up offerings is Beer on the Rails. -
New Jersey 'Beer Tasting' Train Rides
May 09, 26 10:49 AM
On select dates, the Woodstown Central Railroad pairs its scenery with one of South Jersey’s most enjoyable grown-up itineraries: the Brew to Brew Train. -
New Hampshire 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 09, 26 10:32 AM
The state's murder mystery trains stand out as a captivating blend of theatrical drama, exquisite dining, and scenic rail travel. -
North Carolina 'Dinner Train' Rides At Spencer
May 09, 26 10:26 AM
Tucked into the Piedmont town of Spencer, the North Carolina Transportation Museum is the kind of place that feels less like a typical museum and more like a living rail yard that never quite stopped… -
Tennessee 'Dinner Train' Rides At TVRM
May 09, 26 10:16 AM
Tucked into East Chattanooga, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) is less a “museum you walk through” and more a railroad you step aboard. -
Pennsylvania 'Dinner Train' Rides At Boyertown
May 09, 26 10:02 AM
With beautifully restored vintage equipment, carefully curated menus, and theatrical storytelling woven into each trip, the Colebrookdale Railroad offers far more than a simple meal on rails. -
New York 'Murder Mystery' Dinner Train Rides
May 09, 26 09:54 AM
New York State, renowned for its vibrant cities and verdant countryside, offers a plethora of activities for locals and tourists alike, including murder mystery train rides! -
Central of Georgia Timetables (August, 1952)
May 08, 26 11:51 PM
Featured is the Central of Georgia Railway's complete timetable listing from the August, 1952 edition of the "Official Guide Of The Railways." -
Pittsburgh & West Virginia Timetables (September, 1937)
May 08, 26 11:30 PM
Presented here is the Pittsburgh & West Virginia's public timetables listed in the September, 1937 issue of the "Official Guide." -
Brightline Florida Faces Debt Crisis and Future Uncertainty
May 08, 26 02:50 PM
Florida’s pioneering private high-speed passenger rail service, Brightline, is confronting a severe liquidity crunch that has triggered auditor warnings of “substantial doubt” about its ability to con… -
Reading & Northern Launches Its Own Coffee Brand
May 08, 26 02:28 PM
The Reading & Northern Railroad is thrilled to announce the launch of its very own coffee brand, Iron Horse Coffee Company. It will soon be served on all scenic train rides and in the café car located… -
Reading 4-8-4 2100 To Be Under Steam This June
May 08, 26 02:11 PM
fter more than a decade of intensive restoration by the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association (ASR), the legendary Reading Company 4-8-4 Northern-type steam locomotive No. 2100 will make it… -
Pennsylvania Murder Mystery Dinner Train Rides (2026)
May 08, 26 01:52 PM
Pennsylvania, steeped in history and industrial heritage, offers a prime setting for a unique blend of dining and drama: the murder mystery dinner train ride. -
Minnesota Beer Tasting Train Rides (2026)
May 08, 26 01:43 PM
Among the North Shore Scenic Railroad's special events, one consistently rises to the top for adults looking for a lively night out: the Beer Tasting Train.
