New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show
The tradition continues! Every year for the last decade I’ve kicked off the holiday season by visiting the New York Botanical Garden’s amazing Holiday Train Show. Even before I had kids, there was something just so intriguing about it, so romantic, so fun. It completely deserves all of the hype. The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show is one of my favorite winter events around Long Island!
Since having kids – especially train-obsessed kids – it’s become a favorite annual family custom. What I love now about visiting the show is not just the ever-changing creations made of natural elements, but the memories found on fixed things too. Like the bench where I nursed my daughter (who is now eight). Or the exit where my son (who is now five) stood for an hour and was completely shocked and surprised every time Thomas the Train passed by (pictured at the top). I smile as I pass these places and shake my head at how my children have grown.
This year it was even more fun for us. Our youngest is two and by far the most train-obsessed of the bunch. We could not wait to take him. His reactions did not disappoint. Everything he saw he just gasped in awe. It was so cute. As we walked through the show his little head just whipped up, down and all around. He just didn’t know where to look. We had so much fun watching him.
What’s nice for repeat visitors like us is how the show changes and evolves each year. I noticed a lot more bright colors and love the addition of the heavily baubled holiday trees. Every aspect of the show simply screamed “holidays”. I also noticed all signs were in both English and Spanish, and there were a lot more natural tunnels and waterfalls. I love when something perfect gets even better.
Generally my plan of attack is to visit the show first thing in the morning on a weekend to avoid the crowds. But there is something to say about seeing the show at night with all the lights too. So really, anytime you go is perfect. Going at a leisurely pace you can see the whole show in an hour and a half. But in truth – and without the kids (you love dearly) bothering you – one could spend hours there. There are just so many tiny little details you can catch, it’s astonishing.
If a kid-free viewing sounds good to you, check out the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show adults only Bar Car Nights featuring Bronx Night Market Holiday Pop-up. Not only will you get an after dark viewing of the Show, but the NYBG transforms into a festive outdoor adventure.
If Thomas the Tank is your jam then I highly recommend checking out All Aboard with Thomas and Friends which begins December 29th. In addition to the Holiday Train Show, there is a show staring your favorite blue engine. We’ve seen this show several times, and it did not disappoint in the eyes of my kids.
One of the nicest things you can do while at the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show is enjoy all that the New York Botanical Gardens has to offer. They have a fantastic 12 acre kids adventure garden, tons of family programming, the Evergreen Express, and gardens galore.
The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show’s 175 New York landmarks were the brain child of Paul Busse from Applied Imagination in Kentucky. Along with his team, he has been creating these annual jaw dropping “sculptures” out of bark, leaves, and other natural materials in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory since 1992. This year’s exhibition offers more G-scale trains and track (over half a mile!) than ever before and showcases the beloved monuments of Lower Manhattan.
The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show runs through Monday, January 21, 2019.
*Giveaway*
The nice people at The New York Botanical Garden want you to come too! One lucky reader will win a family 4-pack! To enter, please tell us in the comment section below: What is your favorite train show or train related memory? Winner chosen 12/10 at 7pm.
I’ve never been and really want to go!!!
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
My son loves trains, including but not limited to Thomas and friends. The best train memory is probably using the train to go NYC 😁
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
Strasbourg PA train station, we went on a nice train ride and at the end they switched the engine and we went the opposite way!
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
I haven’t been but should definitely take my boys. My favorite train related memory is on my honeymoon (sigh) … we took the train from Venice to Florence (sigh again. Lol).
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
My son loves trains and would love to go!
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
Can you believe I have three kids and have never been to a train show? My kids know that their Daddy takes the train to and from work everyday. They also love Thomas and the words “Choo Choo” were one of the first words from each of them. Would love to take them to this!
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
This looks great!!
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
My son loved the NY Botanical Garden Train Show two years ago—would love to go back!!! He loves Thomas the Train!
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
💐 + 🚂 = happy place
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
I haven’t had a chance to take the kids to the train show but I have wonderful memories of my kids, especially my son playing with his train table and Thomas trains for hours. These trains were the best reward system for potty training lol.
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
My 2 little girls are dying to ride a train! How awesome would it be to take them on a train ride to see a train show:)
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
My son is 17 and has loved trains since he was 1. I used to bring him to train museums and he was also in love with Thomas the train. My daughter who is 9 folllowed in his footsteps. There is a Christmas Train Ride a few towns away but it is sold out, this win would be an excellent reason to drive to NY from CT for the day and make another family memory. Thank you & good luck everyone.
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
I work with children with Autism and my school used to bring a group every year and I remember my students being in heaven not only about the train but also the amazing miniatures. I have yet to bring my own train obsessed sons there but would love to.
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, you didn’t win the family 4-pack prize. I hope you’ll be able to visit the NYBG Holiday Train Show anyway! Happy holidays!
Favorite train memory? It actually would prob make most people cringe. My son was prob a little less than 2 and it was the summer. We were on the subway and he was ecstatic – not only a real live train, but a real live subway. He loved everything about it, passing the stations, seeing people get on and get off — and at one point I look over, and hes got the bigger smile ever, and he’s shoeless. Standing on a NYC Subway seat, shoeless. We arent germophobes, so we let him keep enjoying the experience — but we got lots of comments about it afterwards, when people saw the pix.
Congratulations! You have won the family 4-pack! Please email themintchipmama@gmail.com with your mailing address so we can get the tickets to you. Happy holidays!