The Napa Valley Wine Train has announced Santa Train Jolly Journeys for this year’s holiday season. This year marks the Santa Train’s 30th anniversary; the train will run from November 30 to December 23, 2023. Guests of the Santa Train can choose from experiences such as Santa’s Cookie Car, Gourmet Holiday Express, Jingle on the Rails and the Very Merry Vista Dome. Additional events will be announced throughout the year.
The Napa Valley Wine Train will donate a portion of proceeds from tickets purchased for the Santa Train to support Expressions of Hope and The Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (NCFF). Expressions of Hope is a Napa-based youth organization that provides resources and support for local foster families. Guests are encouraged to bring holiday socks for youth (ages zero to 17), holiday-themed coloring workbooks and suitcases or backpacks to drop off at the train depot.
To support Napa’s local firefighters and resiliency efforts, the Wine Train is partnering with the Yountville Fire Department to turn the station into a fully outfitted North Pole which borders the Wine Train’s tracks for a festive destination for the Santa Train journey. The new North Pole destination for the Santa Train will be a prominent stop along the route for all Santa Train runs during the holiday season.
Details of Santa Train Jolly Journeys are as follows:
- Santa’s Cookie Car (5 p.m. check in; 7:40 p.m. return) – This one-and-a-half-hour holiday décor and festive music-theme round-trip train ride from Napa to Yountville includes a digital photo with Santa to post and print, hot cocoa served with a freshly baked cookie and a surprise visit from Santa for a personal photo opportunity.
- Gourmet Holiday Express (3 p.m. check in; 7:40 p.m. return) – This three-course kid-friendly dinner experience includes a delicious meal, three potential visits with Santa, complete with digital and printed photo, and a surprise onboard tableside visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
- Jingle on the Rails (3 p.m. check in; 7:40 p.m. return) – Guests can enjoy a Santa-approved multi-course gourmet holiday dinner from the train’s culinary team complete with a signature cookie and cocoa. Guests will receive a tableside visit from Santa.
- Very Merry Vista Dome (4 p.m. check in; 7:40 p.m. return) – This festive culinary adventure in the train’s observation-style dining car includes a three-course Napa Valley inspired holiday dinner, digital and printed photo with Santa, and a surprise tableside visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Dessert will be served as a box of house-made sweets to enjoy at home.
Guests are encouraged to book tickets together to guarantee seating with their party. Free parking is available in the Napa Valley Wine Train’s parking lot; however, space is limited. Cocktails, local wine and beer are not included with the cost of the ticket but are available for purchase. Tickets for the Santa Train Jolly Journey are available online.
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