Free Holiday Train & Light Displays: A 2026 City Guide
Find free holiday trains and light displays by date and city, plus parking and donation costs to plan each visit.
Free holiday train and light displays for 2026 span Honolulu, Ocean City, Duluth, and 182 CPKC Holiday Train stops. Holiday trains include ride-on trains for children and model-train exhibits, while light displays are outdoor lighting installations you can walk past without tickets. These options run from mid-November through late December, with daytime expos and evening lights.
Use the dates, locations, and cost limits below to pick a visit that fits your schedule and budget.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 02, 2026.
What is free in Honolulu?
According to the City & County of Honolulu Mayor's Office, the 42nd Honolulu City Lights fills the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds with free month-long displays Honolulu City Lights announcement. Displays include a lighted tunnel, illuminated trees, and a train for keiki rides.
Motifs also appear on Alapa'i and Beretania Streets. The 2026 kickoff is a block party at 4 p.m. on Dec.
5 on Punchbowl Street and the Civic Grounds. The theme is Christmas in the Country. Arrive early for the opening-day crowd and walk the grounds after dark for the lighted features.
Where can you see model trains for free?
According to the City of Ocean City, the Annual Holiday Train Expo runs Dec. 5-6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at the Music Pier Ocean City Train Expo listing. The event features running displays, all-gauge model trains, and vendors. Admission is free.
The daytime hours suit families and casual viewers. You can watch trains run, browse vendor tables, and leave without paying admission.
How does the traveling holiday train work?
According to CPKC, the 2026 Holiday Train tour runs Nov. 19-Dec. 20 across six Canadian provinces and the U.S., visiting 182 communities CPKC Holiday Train schedule.
Each stop offers free concerts that encourage food or fund donations for local hunger needs. In Minnesota, the train makes 25 stops Dec. 11-18, including Twin Cities stops.
Check the stop time before you go, since many performances are brief evening shows. Bring a food item or cash donation if you can, and dress for standing outdoors.
Which walk-through lights include free treats?
According to Explore Minnesota, Duluth's Bentleyville Tour of Lights runs Nov. 21-Dec. 26, 2026, at Bayfront Festival Park Explore Minnesota Duluth guide.
It is a free walk-through display with over 5 million lights. Visitors receive complimentary cocoa, cookies, and popcorn. On-site parking costs about $12, so the lights and treats are free but driving in is not.
Carpool when possible and bring payment for parking.
- Honolulu: free grounds displays and Dec. 5 block party.
- Ocean City: free admission to the two-day model-train expo.
- CPKC stops: free concerts with food or fund donations encouraged.
- Duluth: free entry and treats, with about $12 for on-site parking. Bring a donation to a train stop and payment for Duluth parking.