Santa Express & Holiday Flyer
Santa Express™
Nov 25-26 & Dec 2-3, 2023
Train Rides with Old Saint Nick
Celebrate the holiday season in a uniquely festive way aboard the 28th Annual Santa Express. Santa will visit as you take in the spirit of Christmas past on an early 1900s adventure. All cars are kept comfortably warm using the over century-old tradition of steam heating or coal-fired stoves, just like at the North Pole.
A uniformed conductor will welcome you aboard and collect your tickets. Once aboard, Santa takes time to visit each and every family at their seat during the 55-minute ride. Santa’s elves are also aboard and help spread Christmas cheer with small gifts for the children.
All aboard!
Santa Express Schedule
There are four Santa Express departures each day of the four-day event. Trains travel the entire 7-mile round-trip route. Rides last 55 minutes.
Saturday, November 25, 2023 – Departures at 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm
Sunday, November 26, 2023 – Departures at 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm
Saturday, December 2, 2023 – Departures at 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm
Sunday, December 3, 2023 – Departures at 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm
Fares
For this event, Coach Class is the only type of ticket offered.
| Fare Class | Fare |
|---|---|
| Adult | $27.00 |
| Senior (62+) | $25.00 |
| Child (3-15) | $14.00 |
| Child (2 and Under) | Free |
Photos
Returning for a second year…
The Holiday Flyer
Hot Chocolate and Christmas Fun
Departing Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM
Celebrate the holiday season with a festive train ride. Embark on a 55-minute sunset ride through rural Sauk County, arriving back at North Freedom from the roundtrip ride at twilight.
Aboard the train, passengers will enjoy festive decorations and music. Hot chocolate, candy canes, as well as goodie bags for children will be provided by North Pole elves.
SANTA IS NOT SCHEDULED TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE ON THE HOLIDAY FLYER TRAIN. For an experience with Santa, please book our Santa Express trains.
This is a rare chance to experience Mid-Continent’s train rides during twilight, proving a unique ride experience. The century-old railcars are kept comfortably warm using the original steam heating systems.
Fares
For this event, Coach Class is the only type of ticket offered.
| Fare Class | Fare |
|---|---|
| Adult | $27.00 |
| Senior (62+) | $25.00 |
| Child (3-15) | $14.00 |
| Child (2 and Under) | Free |
Book Tickets
Note About Ticket Availabilty
As of midday Friday, all the remaining Santa Express and Holiday Flyer trains for this weekend were sold out.
Trains that currently are listed as sold out may later have some tickets become available again from existing ticketholders canceling their bookings. Due to the frequency of changes, Mid-Continent staff are unable to contact customers if and when tickets become available. We suggest checking the Buy Tickets page regularly if you are still looking for tickets. The Buy Tickets interface provides up-to-the-minute availability for each train departure.
WINTER WEATHER NOTICE: Santa Express and Holiday Flyer trains operate as scheduled regardless of weather conditions. If driving through winter weather please allow extra travel time and arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your train’s scheduled departure time. For current road conditions, visit https://511wi.gov/.