Holiday Express at Pullen Park runs Dec. 1-17, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets sold out after the Oct. 15 sale; resale is at face value on Ticketmaster only.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Every detail comes from Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources: its Holiday Express page and 2026 announcement.

Holiday Express returns to Pullen Park from Tuesday, Dec. 1, to Thursday, Dec. 17, 2026, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are sold out. They went on sale at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, through Ticketmaster at $21 a person plus tax and fees, and the city’s announcement showed the event sold out by that evening.

Who to call

  • Event questions: HolidayExpress@raleighnc.gov
  • Ticket problems: Ticketmaster, which handles all sales
  • Raleigh Parks: 919-996-3285

If you do not have tickets

The city does not list a waitlist. It allows tickets to be gifted or resold, at face value and only through Ticketmaster, within the limits the N.C. Secretary of State sets. Screenshots of tickets are not accepted, so a ticket bought anywhere else may not get you in. Sales are final; there are no refunds.

Other free and paid holiday lights around Raleigh, including drive-through displays, are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page.

Dates and times
Dates Tuesday, Dec. 1, to Thursday, Dec. 17
Hours 5 to 9:30 p.m. nightly
Early entry 4:15 p.m. for guests holding 4:30 or 5 p.m. train tickets; other activities open at 5 p.m.
Sensory-friendly sessions 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 13
Where Pullen Park, 520 Ashe Ave.
Price $21 a guest plus tax and fees (sold out)

The sensory-friendly afternoons have lower music, fewer guests, less walking, a quiet area and sensory bags with headphones and fidgets, the city says.

What a ticket covers

Entry and every activity, according to the city:

  • The Holiday Express train ride past lights and decorations
  • The carousel
  • The Enchanted Elevator “to the North Pole”
  • Santa’s Toy Shop, in a caboose workshop
  • Candy Cane Lane, Glistening Glen, Arctic Avenue and Reindeer Flight School
  • The Yeti scavenger hunt and Club Cocoa Court
  • The Igloo Experience, hosted by the Rotary Club of Crabtree

Snacks from the cafe stands, souvenirs and the Club Cocoa Lounge hot chocolate bar cost extra.

Rules to know before you go

  • Ride at your ticketed time. Train times cannot be changed. Expect a 15 to 30 minute wait.
  • Three to a seat, children included.
  • Everyone 1 year and older needs a ticket, even if they skip the train. Children 12 months and under do not.
  • Service animals only; no pets.
  • It is outdoors, with no indoor space. Dress for the weather.
  • Weather: the event runs in light rain or snow. For severe weather the city decides by noon and emails ticket holders; rain dates are possible.

Getting there

Pullen Park is at 520 Ashe Ave. The city’s event page does not give parking instructions; see our parking guide and check road closures before you go.

What this means for you

  • No ticket, no entry: the city has sold every ticket for the run.
  • Buy resale only through Ticketmaster, at face value.
  • The two sensory-friendly Sundays are the quietest way to see it if you hold those tickets.

More for the season: Christmas parade and tree lighting, holiday lights and Christmas events and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is Holiday Express at Pullen Park in 2026?

Tuesday, Dec. 1, through Thursday, Dec. 17, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. nightly, at Pullen Park, 520 Ashe Ave. Sensory-friendly sessions run 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 13.

Are Pullen Park Holiday Express tickets sold out?

Yes. Tickets went on sale through Ticketmaster at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at $21 a person plus tax and fees, and the city says they are sold out. The city does not mention a waitlist.

Can I buy resale Holiday Express tickets?

Only at face value through Ticketmaster. The city says tickets may be gifted or resold at face value through Ticketmaster within the N.C. Secretary of State’s limits, and screenshots of tickets are not accepted at the gate.

Does a baby need a Holiday Express ticket?

No. Every guest 1 year or older needs a ticket, even if they do not ride the train. Children 12 months and under do not.

What happens if it rains?

Holiday Express runs in light rain or snow. The city may cancel for severe weather and decides by noon on the day, emailing ticket holders; it says rain dates are possible.