Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains
Visitors can observe track-level views of over 300 rail cars and 50 locomotives winding through a miniature metropolis and snowy hills. The exhibit features a Holiday Scavenger Hunt where guests search for hidden objects nestled within the garden railway layout. Guests can also explore an interactive storybook tracing train history, pose before a dancing Northern Lights photo backdrop, and visit Santa by his fireplace.
What to Expect
Celebrating 80 years of the historic Duke Energy Holiday Trains.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
West End
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Cincinnati Museum Center
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with children and train fans
Vibe
Festive, nostalgic, playful
Energy Level
Low
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
None
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Free for members or included with Museum Admission. – Get tickets
Tips & Advice
- Have your camera ready when you walk in, because the Northern Lights display with dancing green lights and snowy trees makes a family photo backdrop.
- Give yourself time to walk all the way around the layout, because the Holiday Scavenger Hunt hides objects throughout the snowy hills.
- Visit on or after November 27 if seeing Santa matters, since that's when he arrives at his fireplace in the Ruthven Gallery.
- Pair the trains with an OMNIMAX® film, either the new Train Time or the returning Rocky Mountain Express, to make it a full rail-themed day.
- Museum members get into Holiday Junction free, and for everyone else it's included with regular Museum Admission.
Special Events & Promotions
- The Duke Energy Holiday Trains celebrate their 80th season.
- Santa arrives on Friday, November 27.
- New this year: Train Time debuts in the OMNIMAX® Theater, and Rocky Mountain Express is back.
- Tower A visits run on select dates in December through Cincinnati Heritage Programs.
- Extended holiday hours run on select dates.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see?
Over 300 rail cars and 50 locomotives run through a miniature city and snowy hills, and you see them at track level. There's also a Northern Lights photo backdrop and an interactive storybook on the history of the trains.
Where do we visit Santa?
Santa arrives on Friday, November 27. After that you can visit him by his fireplace in the Ruthven Gallery.
What's special this year?
The Duke Energy Holiday Trains celebrate their 80th season this year. They first ran downtown in 1946. The OMNIMAX® Theater is also debuting Train Time.
Is there something for kids to do besides watch the trains?
Yes. The Holiday Scavenger Hunt hides objects throughout the garden railway layout for kids to find in the snowy hills.
Can we visit Tower A?
Yes, on select dates in December, through Cincinnati Heritage Programs. Tower A was the command center for the 216 trains a day that came through Union Terminal. Today it overlooks the working intermodal yard.
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