One of Northern Michigan’s most popular holiday attractions, the History Center of Traverse City’s Festival of Trains, officially opens Saturday, Dec. 18, through Sunday, January 2 at the History Center of Traverse City (formally the Grand Traverse Heritage Center), 322 Sixth Street, in Traverse City.
Hours for the popular festival are Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4pm. Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, the trains will run from 10am to 4pm.
The festival is closed Christmas Day.
Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per senior (age 65 plus), $2 per youth (ages 4 through 17), and children 3 and under are free. A family pass is available at $20 for unlimited visits to the festival by parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren.
New items in the model train layouts this year include a high speed rail, rock quarry, cherry orchards and more. The popular “Thomas the Train” interactive cab will return to this year’s festival. A swap meet for model engines, cars, track and accessories will be open to the public on Saturday, December 18th.
The Festival of Trains offers a train-related raffle and conductor’s gift shop with holiday and railroad themed gifts for the entire family.
The Festival of Trains is presented by the Northern Michigan Railroad Club in collaboration with the History Center of Traverse City.
The Festival of Trains is a major fundraiser for the History Center of Traverse City, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and presenting the history of Traverse City and the Grand Traverse region.
Website: http://gtheritagecenter.org/festival-of-trains-2010-2/