Many people had train displays around the Christmas tree when they were kids - even if it was one little train going around the Christmas tree, and that became a popular tradition for people.
EnterTRAINment Junction features three Christmas train displays at the Expo Center, which are free and open to the public.
Located just off Main Street, the three train layouts include a Lionel train display that was originally exhibited at the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis. There is also an HO-scale train display featuring the ever-popular Dept. 56 buildings and villages. A third train display (also G-scale), created by members of the Greater Cincinnati Garden Railway Society, is set against a winter wonderland backdrop.
With Union Terminal closing the Duke Energy Train Display this year due to the renovation, there’s a popular attraction that won’t be open for guests to visit, so for those that want to see train displays, EnterTRAINment Junction is an optional place to visit, Balfour said.
Christmas at the Junction also features “The World’s Largest Indoor Train Display” as part of the ticketed attraction.
“The World’s Largest Indoor Train Display features three time periods in history, including the mid-1800’s when everything was steam trains. Then, it goes into the Golden Age of Train Travel, which is the 1940’s and 1950’s. The last section features modern-day trains,” Balfour said.
With the “Christmas Journey to the North Pole” walk-through attraction, guests will enjoy snowy scenes with snowfall on the way to the North Pole and Santa’s Village. The village features a post office, a sleigh house, a reindeer barn and an elves’ workshop.
Guests will also have an opportunity to visit with Santa in his study and see Mrs. Claus in her kitchen, where she will offer visitors a free cookie. (Santa goes on vacation after Christmas.)
As part of Christmas at the Junction’s winter run, visitors will also find a holiday-themed Main Street area, a 1930s’ cityscape trimmed in festive lights and decorations. Main Street has a sidewalk café, several party rooms and a toy shop, Junction Hobbies & Toys.
Junction Hobbies & Toys stocks selection of classic and nostalgic toys, including the area’s largest collection of Thomas the Train merchandise, G-Scale and HO trains and accessories, LEGOS and more.
EnterTRAINment Junction’s celebrated attractions are also open, including a 1,000 ft. replica of the historic Coney Island Amusement Park, a kids’ play area, the “weird and wacky” A-Maze-N FunHouse as well as the educational American Railroading Museum and more.
How to go
What: Christmas at the Junction at EnterTRAINment Junction
Where: 7379 Squire Court, West Chester
Hours: Runs daily through Sun., Jan. 1. Extended holiday hours, open to 9 p.m. Hours are Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 9 p.m. The attraction is closed on Christmas Day and closes at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. On Jan. 1, the attraction closes at 6 p.m. Santa goes on vacation after Christmas. Mrs. Claus is available every day from 11 a.m. to close throughout the duration of the event.
More info: “Do-It-All” tickets are $16.95 (Tickets are $2 off if purchased through the Website.) Free parking. Visit www.EnterTRAINmentJunction.com or call (513) 898-8000.
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