Tickets are on sale this week for Raleigh’s wildly popular Holiday Express, an annual winter festival that includes a holiday train ride at Pullen Park.
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Raleigh will use TicketMaster for the second year in a row for one of the hottest ticketed events of the season, which runs Dec. 1 through Dec. 17.
The city has continuously expanded the event since it first began in 2007 with just 3,279 visitors. Last year, Raleigh sold 33,600 tickets and is offering nearly 41,000 tickets this year, said Adam Forman, assistant director of parks, recreation and cultural resources for Raleigh.
“We’ve made a very concerted effort to streamline operations and increase access, in order to meet the truly extraordinary demand for Holiday Express and make sure as many Raleigh families as possible can enjoy this signature event,” he said to The News & Observer.
Tickets in previous years have sold out within minutes, and glitches have caused long, virtual lines and frustrations from residents.
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Tickets for the 2026 Pullen Park Holiday Express go on sale at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 on Ticketmaster. Tickets are $21.
Here are a few other ticket reminders from the City of Raleigh:
Visit raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/holiday-express for more information.
In addition to the train ride through Pullen Park and holiday music on the carousel, here are some the activities planned during Holiday Express:
There are two sensory-friendly events scheduled during the Holiday Express event: 1-4 p.m. on Sundays, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13.
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The sensory-friendly event includes the following modifications:
This story was originally published October 13, 2026 at 8:21 AM.