Blue Ridge Holiday Express train 2026: dates, prices and tips

Yes, Blue Ridge, Georgia has a Christmas train. The Blue Ridge Railway (Blue Ridge Scenic Railway) runs the 1-Hour Holiday Express from its downtown depot on select dates from November 28 through December 24, 2026, with holiday music, The Night Before Christmas and a chance to see Santa. Many departures sold out early.

What the ride is

The Blue Ridge Railway describes the 1-Hour Holiday Express as a one-hour ride with holiday music and a reading of The Night Before Christmas. Children get a jingle bell and a candy cane and a chance to see Santa, and the booking system’s headline puts Santa front and center. The Fannin County Chamber says Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves are aboard. Hot chocolate and other snacks are sold in the concession car.

2026 dates and departure times

The railway's booking system lists 1-Hour Holiday Express departures on November 28 and 29 and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, 2026. (Railway booking system, checked Oct 17, 2026)

On Saturday, November 28 (Light Up day) trains leave at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Most other dates have departures at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., and each ride lasts one hour. The booking system shows no 1-Hour Holiday Express on Friday, November 27; that day only the 4 p.m. Holiday Pavilion train is listed. The railway could still add trips.

The railway’s own pages disagree on the last day. Its home page lists the Holiday Express through December 23, while its Holiday Special Rides page and the booking system run through December 24. The booking system is what sells the seats, so we use December 24. Times and prices here are from the railway’s website and booking system as of October 17, 2026. Dates can change; confirm with the railway at brscenic.com or (877) 413-8724.

Prices

• Ages 13 and up: $56.99.
• Ages 2 to 12: $46.99.
• Infants (0 to 23 months): free.

Those prices are before booking fees and taxes. Season passes are not valid on special trains like the Holiday Express. Premier Car amenities are offered only on 4-hour rides, so the 1-hour train has no Premier option.

Already sold out?

The railway warns that holiday tickets sell out fast, and on October 17 the booking system already showed many departures sold out. If your date is gone, the railway’s regular Winter Rides run from November 5, 2026 through February 28, 2027. They are the railway’s regular scenic trips, without the holiday program. Our train ride comparison sets the options side by side.

Closed coach or open-air coach

The Holiday Express is sold in two coach types, Closed Coach and Open Air Coach. In winter the open-air coaches get vinyl windows for heat retention, but the railway still recommends dressing warm in them. NOAA’s December normal low at Blairsville, the nearest long-term station, is 28.7°F; see our December weather page for the NOAA normals.

Boarding, accessibility and train rules

• Trains board at the depot, 241 Depot Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513.
• Holiday Express trips board 30 minutes before departure, and the railway recommends arriving 45 minutes early.
• Your boarding platform (A, B, C or D) is printed on the mobile ticket and signed just off the sidewalk on the east side of the train.
• There are about five steps up into a coach.
• The accessible coach, #405, has a lift and an accessible restroom. Its seats are not sold online; book them by phone at (877) 413-8724. The lift handles up to 1,000 pounds including the chair, and wheelchair access is at the corner of East Main Street in front of the depot.
• The train has 12 bathrooms and two baby changing stations, in Cars 332 and 405.
• Strollers are allowed but must be folded and stowed during the trip.
• No pets except service animals, and you need to tell the ticket office before departure if you bring one.
• Trains run rain or shine.

Those details come from the railway’s FAQ and trip-planning page.

Cancellations

You can cancel for a refund, less $10 per adult and $5 per child ticket, up to 48 hours before departure. Tickets bought through a third party have to be changed or refunded through that third party.

The 4-Hour Holiday Pavilion train

The railway also runs a longer holiday trip on three dates only. The booking system schedules the 4-Hour Holiday Pavilion from 4 to 8 p.m. on November 27 and from 2 to 6 p.m. on December 5 and December 19, 2026. The Chamber describes it as a four-hour ride with a two-hour layover in McCaysville and Copperhill. Coach seats run $59.99 to $76.99 before fees and taxes. The railway has not published much more about what the Pavilion includes on board.

Parking at the depot

The railway says downtown parking is limited, that there are paid lots near the depot and that East and West Main Street parking is limited to three hours. Weekends are its busiest days. Our parking and crowds guide has more, and if you are asking about the Polar Express, read our answer first.

Questions people ask