Saturday December 6
through December 7
New Lenox Train Station, 201 N. Prairie Rd, New Lenox, IL, 60451, United States
ALL ABOARD!Save the dates for our 2025 17th Annual Christmas Express! Join us Saturday, December 6th or Sunday, December 7th and enjoy a fun-filled family event on the Holiday Train from theNew Lenox train station to Tinley Park and back! Tickets include a visit with Sa......More
ALL ABOARD!Save the dates for our 2025 17th Annual Christmas Express! Join us Saturday, December 6th or Sunday, December 7th and enjoy a fun-filled family event on the Holiday Train from theNew Lenox train station to Tinley Park and back! Tickets include a visit with Santa, a meal, plus many activities. Santa and his elves can’t wait to see you! All proceeds will benefit Will and Grundy County children in our program who are experiencing abuse and neglect. Tickets Now on SalePlease Note: This year we will be using Zeffy as our ticketing platform. Zeffy is free for nonprofits like CASA of River Valley because it is funded by voluntary contributions. At checkout, Zeffy automatically suggests a 15% contribution to support their platform. This fee is completely optional — you may adjust it by selecting “Other” and entering $0 (or any amount you prefer). CASA does not receive these contributions, and all proceeds from your ticket purchase go directly to support children in our programs. Our elves are busy every year answering questions from our guests, so we thought it might be helpful to provide answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. Will I receive my tickets (in the mail or digitally)?You do not need, nor will you receive, physical tickets for this event. Approximately one hour prior to your scheduled departure, simply check in at our registration desk at New Lenox Metra Station to receive your wristbands for the entire day. Am I assigned to a certain train on my return trip?No. You may return on any Metra train so you can enjoy all the activities in Tinley Park. Return trains depart at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. What else is there to do in Tinley Park?In addition to CASA’s Santa’s Workshop at Harald Viking Lodge, guests can visit the Tinley Park Holiday Market (12–5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday), with activities around the train station and Oak Park Avenue. How will I know where to go?Upon check-in at the New Lenox Metra Station, each guest will receive a QR to the map. CASA volunteers with signs will guide you to Harald Viking Lodge and through the activities. Where can I park in New Lenox?Parking near the New Lenox Metra Station is abundant and free on weekends. You may use any adjacent lot. For convenience, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks are located nearby on Route 30 for coffee or restrooms. Is there reserved seating for groups?We cannot assign reserved seating, but our volunteers will do their best to seat groups together. Volunteers will guide you to available tables upon entering the tent. Are strollers allowed on the train?Yes, Metra allows strollers. Please keep in mind the event is typically sold out and every seat will be filled. Be mindful that belongings do not take the place of a purchased seat. Metra may ask passengers to keep accessible seats open for those who need them. What if I purchased tickets but can no longer attend?All sales are final (no refunds or exchanges). Your purchase is considered a donation. However, you may post tickets for resale in the discussion tab of our Facebook event page. If you resell, you can ask the buyer to check in under your name. Does my child need a ticket?Children under the age of two are free when sitting on an adult’s lap on the train. All others require a ticket. I don’t have a Facebook account. Is there another way to see my child’s photo with Santa?While we utilize professional photographers who volunteer their time to take your photo, we are only using Facebook to post our Santa photos. However, you are welcome to take your own photos of your child with Santa. All posted photos can be downloaded from Facebook, so that if you do not have a Facebook account, a friend or relative can also send it to you. Also, if you do not wish to have your child’s photo posted to Facebook, you may ask our photographer not to take his/her photo. Still have a question?No problem! Email Abbey at [email protected] and she’ll be happy to help.
New Lenox Train Station, 201 N. Prairie Rd, New Lenox, IL, 60451, United States
