Disclosure: I will be attending a media preview.

Santa's Village
Before boarding the train, I like arriving when it opens to enjoy the activities in Santa's Village which is located next to the train station. The lighting is slightly better too for pictures. The activities open one hour before the Christmas Train runs. Activities this year includes:
- Story Time with Mrs. Claus
- Christmas Cookie Decorating
- Carnival Games
- Ice Fishing
- Santa Claus Moon Bounce
- Christmas Coloring Corner
- Picture Stands
| Story Time with Mrs. Claus in Santa Village at Irvine Park Railroad. Photo by Mary @LetsPlayOC. |
Important Note about Christmas Train
The train departs every 15 minutes from the train station and drop passengers off at the North Pole. Christmas Train tickets may be purchased ONLINE ONLY starting November 1st. Boarding times is any time during your reserved hour, and there will be a boarding line. Please note that tickets cannot be purchased in person.North Pole
After arriving at the North Pole, we enjoy hot chocolate while we wait to talk to Santa. The photo taken below was from two years ago. My boys have grown so much already!
A 5"x7" photo will be available for purchase, but they will also allow you to use your own camera. You can also purchase snacks like popcorn, pretzels, cookies, and coffee from the Elf House Snack Bar, but if you're really hungry, a full kitchen menu is available back at the train station.

After visiting with Santa, we all hopped back on the festively-decorated train and enjoyed the colorful lights and decorations throughout the park. My favorite is going through the magical "Tunnel of Lights". It feels extra special like we just transported back.
Christmas Tree Ranch
Are you looking for the perfect tree? Visit the Christmas Tree Ranch at Irvine Park Railroad from Friday, November 27th through Wednesday, December 23rd! Choose from Douglas fir, Noble fir, and Grand fir trees ranging in height from 4' to 12'. Christmas tree stands, preservatives, tree disposal bags, wreaths, and garland will also be available for purchase. Hours are 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily, and an Irvine Park Railroad staff will help you load your Christmas Tree into/onto your car. The Christmas Tree Ranch is located in the Party Pavilions next to the train station.
Christmas Train 2015
Friday, November 27th through Wednesday, December 23rd
Irvine Park Railroad
(located inside of Irvine Regional Park)
1 Irvine Park Road
Orange, CA
(714) 997-3968www.IrvineParkRailroad.com
PARKING: $3 per vehicle week days, $5 per vehicle on weekends. Free after 5 pm.
1 Irvine Park Road
Orange, CA
(714) 997-3968www.IrvineParkRailroad.com
PARKING: $3 per vehicle week days, $5 per vehicle on weekends. Free after 5 pm.
During the day, you can visit Irvine Regional Park’s other activities including Wheel Fun Rentals® at Irvine Park: bike rentals, paddle boat rentals, the Orange County Zoo, and pony rides. Dogs and professional videography/photography are prohibited. Hours are subject to change without notice. The Christmas Tree Ranch is open weather permitting.

One lucky reader will win this prize. Please enter below for a chance to win!
- 4 Christmas Train Tickets
- 4 Activity Tickets
- 1 Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Bike Rental (excludes the double surrey)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
US Residents Only. No purchase necessary to enter. All fans have an equal chance to win, however, you must enter to win. A winner will be randomly selected via RaffleCopter and notified via email. No cash value. Winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected the same way. Several different ways to earn entries (some can be done daily). Prize will be fulfilled by sponsor. One prize per household. Not liable for unclaimed prizes or fulfillment. Good luck!
Our favorite holiday tradition is getting some hot chocolate and driving around looking at Christmas lights. We love to go up to Nellie Gail and see all the decorated homes. Hope we win this giveaway! We've never been on the Christmas train before! ��
ReplyDeleteLove it when neighborhoods are super festive. Thanks for entering! Good luck!
Deletemy kids would love this! thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteOur favorite holiday tradition is decorating our Christmas tree as a family with hot cocoa and Christmas music.
ReplyDeleteMy family's tradition is decorating our tree together and all gather around the table making tamales
ReplyDeleteyummy!
DeleteWe would LOVE to win. We have never rode the CHRISTmas train. One of our favorite CHRISTmas tradition is going to dinner and thengo and picks out our CHRISTmas tree. :)
ReplyDeleteFavorite Christmas tradition is finding the best lights and decorated houses around town,
ReplyDeleteI love just being with my family, and watching my nieces enjoy the holiday. There at that great age where they still believe in Santa. :D
ReplyDeleteso cute! You're such a good auntie! =)
DeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies.
ReplyDeleteMy 1 year old would love visiting Santa!
ReplyDeleteWe love decorating a huge pile of Christmas sugar cookies, and listening to Christmas on the KOST religiously under the season ends!
ReplyDeleteme too. Love KOST. Are they playing Christmas yet? =)
DeleteI love checking our Christmas lights and making cookies.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite holiday tradition would definitely have to be getting hot chocolate & decorating the Christmas tree together ♡ we've never been to the Irvine train so truly hope to win!
ReplyDeleteWe went to the pumpkin patch & my boyz really want to ride the Christmas Train! =)
ReplyDeleteLove the Pumpkin Patch!
DeleteWould love to take my boys to Irvine Railroad Park. they love Christmas and train.
ReplyDeleteFavorite holiday tradition is going up to the local mountains over New Years. Would love to see all the lights and decorations at this park.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite tradition is exchanging an ornament on Christmas Eve! We would love to win tickets as we've never been to this event before!
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to do an ornament exchange. How does it work?
DeleteI would love to take my boys to irvine park to see Santa at night. Seems magical.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday!
ReplyDeleteLooking at Christmas lights!
ReplyDeleteEvery Christmas we do pajama party & we celebrate with extended family. I'd love to take my family visiting from another country to the irvine Park during the holidays.
ReplyDeleteWe love baking cookies together!
ReplyDeleteOur favorite tradition has been just getting the whole family together and spending quality time, playing board games and chit chatting. I would love to make the Irvine Railroad during Christmas time a new tradition we could celebrate yearly. Thank you for the chance. :)
ReplyDeleteWeird. Not sure why it says unknown. But this is Linda Medrano
DeleteWe love going to the Christmas light track together.
ReplyDeleteWe love going around the neighborhood looking at the Christmas lights. This would be a great family holiday activity to do.
ReplyDeleteWould love to do this, my kids would be so stoked!
ReplyDeleteOur favorite family tradition is to decorate the Xmas tree Thanksgiving weekend. The kids count down to it like it was actually Xmas.
ReplyDeleteWe have a one year old and want to start a new tradition. We would love to win to experience this with our family.
ReplyDeleteWe like decorating cookies.
ReplyDeleteMy fave holiday tradition is making batches of cookies to share with family and friends. We also love to see the lights. We didn't make it to the Christmas train last year but were there right before it to see all of the prep. Hope to make it this year!
ReplyDeleteWe love Irvine Park Railroad!
ReplyDeleteOur favorite holiday traditions taking the kids to see Christmas lights and drink hot cocoa!
ReplyDeleteWe've never been to this event but I think your post just might have motivated me to bring my 4 year old twins!
ReplyDeleteOh wow - Twins! How wonderful!
DeleteWe live Christmas! We love to watch the boat parade, go look at Christmas lights, listen to Christmas music....our favorite time of year.
ReplyDelete