Beating the Rush

Posted in Around the Garden, Holiday Train Show on December 9 2011, by Matt Newman

You want to pay a visit to this year’s Holiday Train Show, but you’re not sure when you should stop by. We understand the dilemma! Seasonal events are popping up all over the city, and as we hurry toward the December holidays, more and more people are venturing out to see the sights and take in the lights. It seems like everyone is on the same schedule! And sooner or later, you find yourself stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a Saturday night, wondering if you’ve actually been sucked back into the weekday commute. It can be hectic. But there’s a way to avoid the hassle.

If the bustling crowd scene doesn’t sync up with that “R&R” you promised yourself, think about an off-peak visit to The New York Botanical Garden instead. The Holiday Train Show is buzzing with trains, tracks, and over 140 landmark models, and unlike some events going on elsewhere in town, our yearly tradition runs all the way through January 16–there’s no reason to think you have to be here at the very peak of the holidays to enjoy the full experience!

Off-peak dates offer the glowing majesty of our seasonal displays with a slightly more intimate setting, and lines tend to thin out if you visit toward the end of the day. There are fewer people, shorter waits, and just a little more leisure time to be had as you wander the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. And if you happen to visit the Holiday Train Show in the new year, you’ll be here just in time to catch January’s exclusive performance: “All Aboard with Thomas and Friends.” Bring the kids and get into the act as Thomas the Tank Engine™ and Driver Sam find their way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks (they’ll probably need some help from the audience). Then be sure to have your camera handy afterward for a photo op with the locomotive himself!

Of course, there’s still enough time to get in on our December events and ticket pricing before holiday hours begin. We’ve got Bar Car Nights, Shopping and Champagne, and so many other great celebrations that it just makes sense to visit before the rush.

Visit our ticket page for Holiday Train Show reservation information. Train Show tickets packaged with the Thomas the Tank Engine performance are available. Click here for Holiday Weeks pricing and schedules.