Arctic Run Model Train Show Returns to Stevens Point Jan. 24-25

The 28th annual Arctic Run Model Train Show will bring two days of operating model railroad layouts, vendors and family-friendly programming to Stevens Point, offering a winter weekend destination for collectors, layout builders and families. The event, hosted by Central Wisconsin Model Railroaders, is designed to showcase craftsmanship, share skills and raise funds for local nonprofits.

The convention runs Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24–25, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Stevens Point. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 12 to 17, and free for children 11 and younger.

Visitors will find working model train layouts of varying scales and styles, featuring detailed scenery and realistic operation. Members of area model railroad clubs will be on hand to explain how layouts are built, from carpentry and electrical work to modeling techniques and scenery. For newcomers, talking with club members provides practical, hands-on advice about getting started and about joining a local club to learn from experienced modelers.

The show’s family programming includes hands-on attractions for children, opportunities to watch trains in motion and to hear model locomotives that replicate the sounds of real trains. Younger attendees can interact with Thomas the Tank Engine and characters from Chuggington Station, while adults can compare vintage sets, inspect rolling stock and scout for hard-to-find pieces.

Vendors will offer equipment from leading manufacturers, as well as railroad clothing, books, memorabilia and vintage models no longer in production. That mix makes Arctic Run useful both for hobbyists looking to source parts or upgrade a layout and for collectors seeking rare items. Because the show brings multiple dealers and club displays together under one roof, it can save time for modelers hunting specific pieces or inspiration for layout projects.

Central Wisconsin Model Railroaders is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1987. Organizers say proceeds from the event go to support nonprofit organizations after expenses, adding a community benefit to the hobby-focused weekend.

Plan to arrive early on Saturday to see the full spread of layouts and vendors, and come prepared to ask layout builders about techniques for carpentry, wiring and scenic work. Arctic Run offers a practical way to buy, learn and connect, the kind of show that helps keep layouts running and keeps new modelers on track.