Tweetsie logo for print
 

PARK CLOSED until April 6, 2024

Celebrate the holiday season as Tweetsie Railroad transforms into a winter wonderland for Tweetsie Christmas.

Closed Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.

Tweetsie Christmas offers holiday activities the whole family will love, including a 20-minute nighttime train ride in an open-air car behind one of the park's historic steam locomotives on a three-mile route lined with over 1 million Christmas lights, a heartwarming, toe-tapping, live Christmas variety show, kid-friendly amusement rides, meetings with Santa in his Gingerbread House filled with candied furnishings, and roasting s’mores over an outdoor fire.

Tweetsie Christmas® Attractions

Train Ride

Enjoy thousands of dazzling Christmas lights and scenes, as you ride in an open-air train car pulled by one of our historic narrow-gauge steam locomotives. The train runs every 30 minutes beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Santa's Gingerbread House

Experience the magic of the holiday season like never before with a visit to Santa's Gingerbread House! As you step in, you may be greeted by a live tin soldier or friendly elves. They will help direct you through the larger-than-life gingerbread house decorated with oversized candies, presents, and festive trees.

Venturing further, you will find Santa and Mrs. Claus, with their friendly smiles and twinkling eyes, sitting behind a beautifully decorated snow globe. You can chat with them, share all of your holiday wishes, capture this special moment with a photo, and leave with a heart full of joy and holiday spirit.

Download our Dear Santa Letter Template to place in the mailbox during your visit.

***After Christmas night Santa will retire to the North Pole for some much-needed rest and Mr & Mrs. Gingerbread will be available for photos.

Live Christmas Show

Audiences of all ages will enjoy the heartwarming, toe-tapping, live Christmas Show in the Tweetsie Palace.

Classic Amusement Rides

Spin through the night on four classic amusement rides - the Little Drummer Boy, (a Tweetsie Christmas exclusive) Bikes & Buggies, F-80s, and the Himalaya.

Memory Makers

Make some great memories with your friends and family while roast s'mores over an outdoor fire pit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Approximately 20 minutes.

You will enjoy a dazzling holiday light display and holiday sing-a-long music during a 3-mile train ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains in an open-air train car pulled by a historic narrow-gauge steam locomotive. Dress warm!

The train ride is delightful for all ages.

Visit Santa in his Gingerbread House, spin through the night on four classic amusement rides, warm up to a campfire and toast s'mores at the Hacienda, enjoy the lights on Main Street and the Christmas trees, and visit the shops.

Tickets will be on sale in mid July and can be purchased online or by phone at 1-877-TWEETSIE (1-877-893-3874).

Advance tickets are required due to reduced park capacity. We anticipate that many nights will be sold out well in advance and that no tickets will be available at the door on the night of the event. We strongly recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance in order to assure entry.

When you purchase a ticket to Tweetsie Christmas, you will select a specific night and train ride time.

Absolutely! The Park opens at 5:00 p.m. for the Tweetsie Christmas event, and there will be plenty of activities to enjoy before your train ride and throughout the evening.

There are no discounts or group rates for this special event.

Yes, you can request a refund of $5 per ticket fee, or exchange for another date/time for a $10 per order fee. This request must be made at least 48-hours in advance of your scheduled visit. You must speak with a ticket office representative in order to complete your refund or exchange. Contact the Ticket Office by phone at 877-893-3874 or email: [email protected] to request a callback.

There are no assigned seats or train cars, only assigned train ride times. Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you would like to sit together, you should line up 20 minutes before your train time and check-in with the train car attendant; and we will do our best to accommodate your group.

All the train cars are open-air excursion cars, so the ride can be quite brisk. Please check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.

After Christmas Santa retires to the North Pole for some much-needed rest. He turns the gingerbread house back over to Mr. & Mrs. Gingerbread who will be available for photos with guests.

Tweetsie Railroad will only be open only in the evening for Tweetsie Christmas.

Yes, you are welcome to take photos aboard the train, with Santa Claus, and at various photo opportunities throughout the Park.

This refers to personal, noncommercial photography only. Photos taken at Tweetsie Railroad are not to be used for commercial purposes without prior written consent from the Marketing Department.

Restrooms with changing stations are available on Main Street and the Hacienda. There are no restrooms or diaper changing facilities on the train.

Due to safety regulations, strollers are not allowed on the train. Strollers can be left safely at the train boarding area on Main Street.

The train has one wheelchair-accessible train car. If you or someone in your group needs to utilize this car please line up 20 minutes in advance of your scheduled train ride time and notify the car attendant.

Yes, you can enjoy the taste of the holidays with specialty fudge, s’mores, and hot food items in the Cowboy Cantina and Tweetsie Palace.

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the premises of Tweetsie Railroad.

We allow our guests to bring in outside food. We do not allow glass containers or alcohol on the premises of Tweetsie Railroad.

Wind, rain, snow and other conditions are possible in November and December. Check the weather forecast prior to your visit and dress accordingly. Portions of the event will take place outside, so if it is raining or snowing please bring appropriate outerwear. Tweetsie Christmas will operate as scheduled unless noted on our website: www.tweetsie.com

Tweetsie Railroad has plenty of free parking on-site.

Christmas TrainYes
Santa's Gingerbread HouseYes
Tweetsie Palace Christmas ShowYes
Amusement RidesHave various height and age limitations
Hacienda S'mores Roasting AreaYes


Boone and Blowing Rock offer a variety of lodging options. The holidays are a very busy time in the mountains and we recommend that you make reservations in advance.

View Lodging Partners

Photo Gallery