THE TRAIN OF LIGHTS OPERATES RAIN OR SHINE. THE TRAIN OF LIGHTS REQUIRES RESERVATIONS THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE BEGINNING MONDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 2023 AT 10 AM ONLINE ONLY. THERE ARE NO STOPS MADE DURING THE TRAIN OF LIGHTS. SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS ARE NOT PRESENT DURING THE TRAIN OF LIGHTS.
SANTA’S VILLAGE IS FREE TO ENTER AND DOES NOT REQUIRE RESERVATIONS. SANTA’S VILLAGE OPERATES WEATHER PERMITTING.
Irvine Park Railroad is hosting the Train of Lights for December 26th to December 30th. Bring your family and friends out to ride the train and view thousands of holiday lights and festive scenes throughout the 1-mile loop in Irvine Park.
Santa’s Village will also be open where you can enjoy festive activities including Ice Fishing, Blizzard Ball and Rudolph Racers. You can decorate cookies and even create your own Christmas tree ornament at Craft Corner. Filled with thousand of sparkling Christmas lights, there are many photo opportunities throughout Santa’s Village. Food and snacks are available as well as hot chocolate and coffee.
Santa’s Village may be enjoyed without any reservations or advance tickets. The Train of Lights requires an advance purchase of tickets starting December 4th, 2023 at 10:00 AM online only. Santa and Mrs. Claus will not be available as they will be busy preparing for the next holiday season!
The Christmas Train is a separate event from the Train of Lights. To learn more about the Christmas Train, click here.
TRAIN OF LIGHTS
December 26th – December 30th
Daily 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Tickets go on sale December 4th, 2023 at 10:00 AM online. Under 24 months FREE – does not require a ticket. Tickets range from $10.00 – $16.00 per ticket depending on the hour.
The regular train will operate from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM with no reservations required until 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
SANTA’S VILLAGE
November 24th – December 30th
Closed December 24th and 25th
10:00 AM to 9:00 PM during the Train of Lights (December 26th – December 30th)
Activity Tickets: $7.00 each
Book of 15 tickets: $90.00 ($15.00 savings)
IRVINE REGIONAL PARK ENTRANCE FEE
Weekdays $3.00 per vehicle
Weekends $5.00 per vehicle
Holidays $7.00 per vehicle
Parking FREE after 6:00 pm
TRAIN OF LIGHTS TICKETS
Train of Lights tickets go on sale online Monday, December 4th, 2023 at 10:00 AM
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm hour: $16.00 per ticket
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm hour: $14.00 per ticket
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm hour: $12.00 per ticket
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm hour: $10.00 per ticket
Important Note: Regular train tickets, tokens, complimentary tickets, discount tickets, and/or coupons are not valid for the Train of Lights or Christmas Train. Under 24 months are FREE and do not require a ticket.
Santa's Village Activity Tickets
$7 Per Ticket - or - $90 Book of 15 Tickets ($15 Savings)
Mini Diggers
2 Tickets Per Person
4 minutes of digging time - Ages 5 and Older.
Moon Bounce
1 Ticket Per Person
10 minutes of jump time
Cookie Decorating
1 Ticket Per Person
Ice Fishing
2 Tickets Per Person
Every player wins a prize.
Carnival Games
1 Ticket Per Person
2 Games - Every player wins a prize.
Rudolph Racers
1 Ticket Per Person
Ages 5-7
Blizzard Ball
1 Ticket Small Prize
2 Tickets Large Prize
Every player wins a prize.
Craft Corner
1 Ticket Per Person
Bank-a-ball
1 Ticket Small Prize
2 Tickets Large Prize
Every player wins a prize.
Great Food
Prices vary by item
Picture Opportunities
FREE
Santa’s Village is free to enter and located at the train station. The Train of Lights requires reservations from December 26th – December 30th that go on sale December 4th, 2023 at 10:00 AM online.
Train of Lights & Santa’s Village FAQs
Yes. Reservations are required to ride the Train of Lights from December 26th – December 30th. Train of Lights tickets must be purchased in advance of riding the Train of Lights and can be purchased online only beginning December 4th, 2023 at 10:00 am. When tickets sell out for a specific time and date, there will be no additional tickets for sale (for that time and date).
On the night that you make a reservation to ride the Train of Lights, you will get in line and board the train at within 30 minutes of your ticket time. For example, if your tickets are for 5:00 – 6:00pm, you must be in line for the train by 5:30pm. The train does not make any stops during the Train of Lights.
Santa’s Village
Santa’s Village operates from November 24th through December 30th (closed December 24th and 25th). Families can enjoy festive activities such as ice fishing, cookie decorating, mini diggers, photo opportunities, and much more. No reservations are required for Santa’s Village. Santa’s Village is located behind the train station. Tickets may be purchased to enjoy the activities in Santa’s Village upon arrival.
Christmas Train
The Christmas Train operates from November 24th through December 23rd. Guests must purchase tickets online in advance starting November 6th, 2023 at 10:00 am. With a reservation, guests will depart from the train station on the Christmas Train and will be dropped off at the North Pole. Children can visit with Santa and have their photo taken. Guests will then board the train again to return to Santa’s Village near the train station. Reservations are required to ride the Christmas Train and to visit with Santa. Tickets for the Christmas Train will sell out.
Train of Lights
The Train of Lights operates from December 26th through December 30th. Guests must purchase tickets online in advance starting December 4th, 2023 at 10:00 am. With a reservation, guests will hop aboard the train at the train station and ride through thousands of enchanting lights throughout the 1-mile loop. The Train of Lights does not make any additional stops during its route. After the ride, guests will then drop passengers back off at Santa’s Village near the train station. Reservations are required for the Train of Lights. Tickets for the Train of Lights will sell out. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are not present during the Train of Lights.
Up to 8 tickets may be purchased in one transaction if there are sufficient tickets available for purchase for that time slot.
No. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will not be available from December 26th – December 30th.
Train of Lights tickets go on sale December 4th, 2023 at 10:00 am and can be purchased online only. Tickets cannot be purchased in person or over the phone. Once tickets are sold out, additional tickets will not be available for that specific date or time.
No. Tickets for the Train of Lights are different tickets and must be purchased online and in advance of when you would like to visit. Regular train tickets, discounts, coupons, and special promotions are not valid for Train of Lights tickets.
Yes. The Train of Lights will sell out. Once tickets are sold out, guests will be unable to purchase tickets to ride the Train of Lights.
We sell Train of Lights tickets online to guarantee that guests will be able to ride the Train of Lights on a specific date and at a specific time without having to wait in an excessive line. The one-time $10.00 online ticket fee (per order) is to cover the cost to sell tickets online.
A certain number of tickets are sold for each hour (ex. 5:00 – 6:00, 6:00 – 7:00). We ask that you are in line to board the train within 30 minutes of your reservation. For example, if your tickets are for 5:00 to 6:00 PM, you must be in line for the train by 5:30 PM. The train departs several times during that hour and you are guaranteed to board the train any time within that hour. Please note that due to circumstances beyond our control, you may board the train just past the hour for which you purchased tickets.
No. Dogs and other animals are not allowed on the Train of Lights nor inside of Santa’s Village. Dogs are welcome in other areas of Irvine Regional Park while kept on a 6′ leash.
The Train of Lights runs rain or shine. Irvine Park Railroad does our very best to make sure most areas are covered from inclement weather. We recommend bringing umbrellas or rain jackets as the train is not fully enclosed. There are no refunds on Train of Lights tickets for any reason.
Should the Train of Lights close for any unforeseen reason, you will be contacted by email on the day that you are scheduled to ride the Train of Lights.
Tickets are valid only for the date and time your purchased. Train of Lights tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable to another day or timeslot. Unused Train of Lights tickets may be exchanged for activity tickets at the train station for equal value of the unused Train of Light ticket(s).
No. Please check the train ride page for the regular train hours of operation for the month of December.
Tickets will be emailed directly to you with your order confirmation. Tickets must be presented to board the train. You have the option to print the tickets or show them on your mobile device. If you purchased the tickets as part of a group, and you will arrive at the park at different times, we recommend that you print the tickets and give them to the members of your group prior to arriving at the park.
The train departs the train station several times during each hour. Once in line, you will board the train to enjoy thousands of lights throughout the 1-mile loop. The Train of Lights will not make any additional stops during its route. It will return to the train station where you can enjoy Santa’s Village.
No. The train will not make any stops during its route from December 26th to December 30th.
No. There are no reservations required for Santa’s Village. Guests may purchase tickets for the activities when they arrive. Reservations are only required to ride the Christmas Train.
Yes. It is free for all guests to enter Santa’s Village. Activity tickets may be purchased when you arrive.
Yes. Tickets that have been purchased in advance as well as books of tickets may be used for the activities in Santa’s Village. These tickets are not valid for the Christmas Train or the Train of Lights.
Santa’s Village is located behind the train station. Entrance into Santa’s Village is located to the right of the train station building.
No. Irvine Park Railroad does not sell Christmas trees.
No. Private parties are not allowed at the Christmas Train.
For private parties, consider reserving a Party Pavilion located adjacent to the train station and Christmas Train area. Additionally, other locations inside of the park are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Picnic benches around the train station are reserved for visitors who purchase food from the snack bar.
Yes. There is a full-service snack bar located at the train station that serves both hot and cold food.
No. Professional and/or staged photography and/or videography is prohibited at the Christmas Train.
Other activities At the park
while you’re here
Wheel Fun Rentals® at irvine park bike rentals
Open Daily at 10:00 am
Price depends on bike type: $10 - $40/per hour
Enjoy biking around beautiful Irvine Regional Park on our single surrey, double surrey, chopper, quad sport, or single rider bikes.
Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Paddle Boats
Open Daily at 10:00 am
Price: $20.00 per half hour
Have fun taking the paddle boats onto the lake. Older children and adults can paddle at your leisure while enjoying the great lakeside scenery.
Pony Rides
Tuesday - Sunday: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
CLOSED MONDAYS
$8.00 per child
Irvine Park Railroad does not own or operate the pony rides. Irvine Park Railroad tickets are not valid for the pony rides. Pony ride tickets must be purchased at the pony ride ticket booth.
Orange County Zoo
Weekend: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Weekday: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
$2.00 per person, ages 2 years and younger enter FREE
Visit the Orange County Zoo that over 100 animals native to Southern California call home. There is a petting zoo, too, an ideal activity for young children. The zoo is a 5-minute walk from Santa's Village.
Refund Policy: Irvine Park Railroad does not offer exchanges or refunds for Train of Lights tickets purchased. If the Train of Lights closes due to unforeseen circumstances, you will be notified by email on the date of the event. Additionally, there will be a message on our web site as well as on our Facebook page. The Train of Lights runs rain or shine.
All prices and information are subject to change without notice.
If you plan on riding the Train of Lights with family and friends, we strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets via one transaction. There is a maximum of 8 tickets per order. If you purchased the tickets as part of a group, and you will arrive at the park at different times, we recommend that you print the tickets and give them to the members of your group prior to arriving at the park.
Professional Photography: Professional and/or commercial photography (including staged photography) and/or videography is strictly prohibited.
When visiting the Train of Lights remember to dress warmly, bring a camera, and arrive early to help avoid crowds.