ABOUT THE THE CHRISTMAS CITY EXPRESS STORY READING:

The Christmas City Express is a storybook experience recommended for families with children and the young at heart. The performance begins in the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, where you’ll be treated to a classic book reading of the new Christmas City Express story, enjoy carolers, and a visit from a special guest! Then it’s time to hop on the train for a cheerful 30-minute ride out to Lake Superior’s shore—complete with holiday music, singalongs, some narration, twinkling lights, and all the warm fuzzy feelings. Onboard, you’ll be treated to complimentary hot chocolate and cookies to keep the magic going. This event is created with shorter attention spans in mind, making it a great fit for kids under 10—though every year, we see grown-ups grinning just as much as the little ones. It’s sweet, simple, and pure holiday joy. About 90-minutes in total from arrival to finish.

The museum is included with your tickets during/after performance, not beforehand, its only about 20 minutes of time to explore after the performance. If you come earlier in the day or the next day (prior to 3pm) you can tour the museum for 50% off.

Show times:
Fridays 4:15, 5:15, 6:15, and 7:15 pm
Saturdays 3:15, 4:15, 5:15, 6:15, and 7:15 pm ($5 additional per ticket)
Sundays: 3:15, 4:15, 5:15, and 6:15

Full experience is about 90 minutes: Performance first, then a short 30-minute train ride. The museum is not available for general touring during this time.

COACH SEATS: Starting at $40.00 adults, $35 for kids. for passengers 3 and up, 2 & under free.
DOMECAR SEATS: Starting at $50.00 for all passengers (ages 0+)
(+$5 on Saturdays, premium day fee)

Space is very limited. Reservations are strongly encouraged for this show. If space is still available, tickets may be purchased starting at 3 pm the day of the performance at the North Shore Scenic Railroad ticket office.

Domecar seats are available. For just $10 more per ticket, you can ride upstairs in the SkyView Domecar and enjoy comfy booth seating under the 85-foot glass dome.

There will be a $5.00 fee on peak days (Saturdays) for all tickets.

Wheelchair Information: The performance of the story is accessible, however the train ride is not due to the historic nature of the equipment. Boarding the train requires about 4 steps up to the level of the train. Limited mobility patrons should consider extra time for walking to the train from parking.

The Bentleyville Shuttle Train is not operating this year. The Christmas City Express does pass by Bentleyville, but does not stop there. Its not too far of a walk from the Depot before or after your show. 

Music is a big part of the show. Each night, we feature local performers who come to share some holiday joy to passengers before and after the performance of the Christmas city Express. Some returning passengers might want to book on a night they know they band, or remember them from previous years…

Music schedule 2025:

The above music performer schedule is subject to change without notification.

More about the train can be found in this video:

All Aboard! Learn more and check train schedules for all excursions here.