Festival of Trains in Traverse City Runs Through January 3

The Festival of Trains opened for the holiday season and continues through January 3, presenting operating model train layouts, a model train swap meet, door prizes, and visits from Santa on select days. The event is presented by the Northern Michigan Railroad Club and The Curiosity Place, and the event listing was dated December 23, 2025. Admission at the door is five dollars, and children four and under are admitted free.

Operating displays from local clubs provide a variety of scales and eras to view, making the festival useful both for families looking for hands on holiday attractions and for modelers scouting layouts and inspiration. The swap meet creates an opportunity to buy, sell, and trade rolling stock, track, electronics, and accessories, and door prizes add a community spirited element to the schedule. Santa appearances on selected days make the event especially attractive to visitors with younger children.

Practical details such as hours and the Santa schedule are included on the event listing, so check the posted schedule before you go to plan your visit. Bring small bills for admission and the swap meet, and allow extra time on weekends when displays tend to be busiest. If you are interested in club activity, organizers from the Northern Michigan Railroad Club will be present, providing an easy way to ask about local meetings, upcoming projects, and volunteering opportunities.

For northern Michigan families and model railroaders, this festival functions as both a seasonal outing and a local hub for the hobby. With the run continuing through January 3, there is still time to visit before the displays pack up, to pick up spare parts at the swap meet, and to meet club members who keep model railroading active in the region.