~Guest Post by the Northwest Railway Museum
It’s not too late to start a new tradition and make new family memories at the Northwest Railway Museum. The 2024 Yuletide Express is fully booked, but tickets for Santa Limited are available most days, weekends following Thanksgiving and the first three Fridays of December.
Santa Limited starts in North Bend and brings visitors to the Railway History Campus. The spacious Train Shed Exhibit Hall allows all passengers to stay inside, away from the winter chill. Santa greets guests inside the restored 19th-century railway chapel car. The coach is decorated with replica Victorian-era décor to give it an extra cozy atmosphere. After the family picture, Santa has a gift for each child.
After seeing Santa (or before—your choice!), grab a cup of cocoa, coffee, or cider with a free cookie. The Museum serves gourmet cookies baked by the Pacific Cookie Company. Guests can see decorated trees, train locomotives and cars, and other holiday decor throughout the Exhibit Hall.
There will be many opportunities for great holiday pictures. Children of all ages can participate in a craft activity at the North Bend Depot and the Exhibit Hall. We have a few new exhibit interactives that we are sure our young visitors will enjoy. Be sure to head to the back of the Train Shed to find them!
When did the museum start this program? Santa Train began back in 1969. The City of Snoqualmie did not look like it does today, and the Snoqualmie Parkway had not been constructed yet. The railway went through the woods via a spur track to where the Snoqualmie Fire Department is located now.
Santa Train stopped near the start of that spur track, near the bottom of what is now Snoqualmie Parkway. Passengers disembarked into a wintry woodland to meet Santa and receive a gift from him, a tradition that continues today! In the event’s early days, Santa gave children a candy cane. Today, it is a small toy.
This year, the Museum is introducing a “Candy Wonderland” theme at the Train Shed. Challenge your family to count the number of candy ornaments throughout the building!
Pro tips: Bring a book or small toy to keep young spirits bright. For older children and the whole family, allow time to check out the activities throughout the building.
Santa Train is one of the Northwest Railway Museum’s largest and most magical events, and a staple of Snoqualmie holiday traditions since 1969. To learn more or get tickets, visit TrainMuseum.org
[Featured Image: Families board at Santa Limited. (Photo courtesy of Chris Neir)]
