Curated event
North Pole Express 2026: Essex Steam Train's holiday train, November 20 to December 23
The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat runs its North Pole Express on select dates from November 20 to December 23, 2026: a 90-minute holiday train from Essex Station with Santa on board. Tickets went on sale in August, coach from $60 and first class from $95, and the December weekends sell out.
- Dates: November 20 – December 23, 2026
- Venue: Essex Station, Essex
- Organised by: Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
- Admission: Ticketed
- Checked: September 11, 2026
If you still want a seat, check the operator's store for the dates that remain and take a weekday departure. Make it the evening of a river-valley day: Essex village, the river towns, dinner nearby. Dress the children warmly; the platform is cold and the trip is timed to the minute.
Schedule
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Friday, November 20, 2026 | First departures of the season on select dates |
| Wednesday, December 23, 2026 | Final departures |
Dates and hours come from the organisers' announcements and can change. Check them once more before setting out.
Official tickets and registration · Sold online only by the operator; individual seats went on sale August 5, 2026 and popular dates sell out.
The event
The North Pole Express is the Essex Steam Train's holiday train: a 90-minute round trip from Essex Station with sing-alongs, hot chocolate and cookies, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The 2026 season runs on select dates from November 20 through December 23.
Tickets are sold online only. Group and section sales opened on August 3, 2026 and individual seats on August 5; coach seats start at $60 and first class at $95, and the weekend departures are the first to go.
Planning the evening
Essex is a small river town; the station sits at its edge on Railroad Avenue with its own parking, and the village, the river and the Connecticut River Museum are minutes away. A weekday departure is the calm version; December Saturdays fill the platform.
The train runs to a timetable, so arrive early, and expect an unheated platform in December: the warm part is on board.
Good to know
- Remaining dates and seats are listed only in the operator's online store; there are no walk-up sales on the day.
- Weekday departures are cheaper and easier to book than the Friday to Sunday ones.
- The valley's inns are a short drive; a river-valley base turns the train into a weekend.
Where to stay for a North Pole Express evening
The river valley is the base: Essex, Chester and the towns along Route 9. This guide compares the valley with the hills and explains how to move around with a car.
- Litchfield Hills vs the Connecticut River Valley The valley as a weekend base.
- Connecticut with or without a car The train needs a car to reach it; this explains the rest.
Make a day of it
Sources and transparency: WFSB: Tickets for North Pole Express at Essex Steam Train go on sale Aug. 3 (2026 dates, prices, trip length) (checked 2026-09-11) Not a paid listing. Editorial policy Full agenda