Santa Train Rides Near Toronto

Few things beat a train ride with Santa for little kids at Christmas. Toronto doesn’t have a Santa train downtown, but there are several within an easy drive, from vintage streetcars in Milton to full Christmas excursions in St. Jacobs, plus a few further-afield rides that make a great weekend trip.

Santa and Christmas train rides near Toronto 2026

Ride	Where	2026 dates	Distance from downtown
Christmas on the Rails, Halton County Radial Railway	Milton	December 5, 6, 12 and 13	About 50 minutes by car
Waterloo Central Railway Christmas trains	St. Jacobs	Select days in November and December	About 1.5 hours
Polar Express at Niemi’s Christmas Market	Mount Albert	To be announced	About 1 hour
Harbourfront Express (Winterfest)	Harbourfront Centre, Toronto	To be announced	Downtown
Portage Flyer Christmas Train Ride to Santa	Huntsville	December 19	About 2.5 hours
North Pole Express, Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario	Smiths Falls	November 28, December 5 and 12	About 4 hours

Operators sometimes add or change dates, so check each website before you go.

Christmas on the Rails, Milton

December 5, 6, 12 and 13, 2026 · Halton County Radial Railway, 13629 Guelph Line, Milton

Ontario’s streetcar museum runs festive rides on its vintage streetcars, with Christmas carols and treats. It’s low-key, affordable and a lovely outing for streetcar-obsessed kids. Tickets are sold at the venue.

Waterloo Central Railway, St. Jacobs

Select days in November and December 2026 · Farmers Market Station, 330 Farmers Market Road, St. Jacobs

The biggest Christmas train programme near Toronto, with several options:

• Daylight Christmas Express: a daytime family ride with holiday entertainment and character visits
• Nighttime Christmas Special: an evening ride with music and storytelling
• Santa’s Nightcap: an adults-only (19+) ride with snacks, holiday swag and a complimentary drink

Make a day of it with the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market and nearby KW Christkindl Market in Kitchener when its dates line up.

Polar Express at Niemi’s Christmas Market, Mount Albert

2026 dates to be announced · Niemi Family Farm, 18463 Highway 48, Mount Albert

A farm Christmas market with free entry and a ticketed train tour that rolls past the farm animals to Santa’s workshop. A good pick for toddlers and preschoolers.

Harbourfront Express, Toronto

2026 dates to be announced · Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West

The only train ride downtown. As part of Harbourfront Centre’s winter programming, two classic small trains loop through a lit-up winter area on the West Campus. Combo tickets with the Winter Maze have been available in past seasons. See Christmas at Harbourfront Centre.

Further afield

• Portage Flyer Christmas Train Ride to Santa, Huntsville (December 19): a ride along the Muskoka River with carols, cookies, hot chocolate and Santa. Tickets are sold only at the station on the day.
• North Pole Express, Smiths Falls (November 28, December 5 and 12): a ride in a decorated vintage caboose and Santa photos in an 1899 dining car. Best combined with a trip to Ottawa. See Christmas in Ottawa.

Heritage railways north and east of Toronto, such as the South Simcoe Railway in Tottenham and the York-Durham Heritage Railway in Uxbridge, have also run Santa trains in past seasons. Check their websites for 2026 plans.

Tips for Santa train rides

• Book early. Weekend departures in December sell out fast.
• Arrive early for parking and boarding, especially at rural stations.
• Dress for cold stations and platforms, even if the train cars are heated.
• Bring a letter for Santa. Many rides include a Santa visit. See how to send a letter to Santa.

Free train fun in Toronto

The CPKC Holiday Train stops in Toronto on Sunday, November 29, 2026, with a free concert from a lit-up boxcar stage.

More family ideas: Christmas in Toronto with kids · where to see Santa in Toronto · Christmas day trips from Toronto