TrainTastic is hosting a full season of holiday events in Gulfport, from Santa Sightings starting November 27 through Holiday Lights on December 26, including Holiday Lights, the Polar Experience, Gingerbread Express with Santa, and the Conductor’s Ball Presented by The Mueller Family. Most events run after hours from 5:30 to 8:00 PM, and several have limited space. Families who want a specific date should book early. Here is the full lineup, with dates, what each event includes, and how to pick the right night for your family.
What Is the Full Holiday Event Calendar at TrainTastic?
Here is every holiday event on the calendar, in date order. All events take place at TrainTastic, 615 Pass Road, Gulfport, MS 39501.
- November 27, 28, and 29: Santa Sighting (2:00 to 5:00 PM)
- December 2: Santa Sighting and Homeschool S.T.E.A.M. Day (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
- December 8: Santa Sighting and Tykes & Trains (9:00 to 11:00 AM)
- December 4 and 5: Holiday Lights (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
- December 6: Polar Experience (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
- December 10: Polar Experience (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
- December 11: Holiday Lights (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
- December 12: The Conductor’s Ball Presented by The Mueller Family (6:00 to 9:00 PM, ages 21+)
- December 13: Polar Experience (5:30 to 8:00 PM). The museum is closed from 1:00 to 5:00 PM for a private event.
- December 17: Polar Experience (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
- December 18: Holiday Lights (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
- December 19: Gingerbread Express with Santa (10 AM to 12 PM) and Holiday Lights (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
- December 20: Polar Experience (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
- December 24 and 25: Closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- December 26: Holiday Lights, Santa Returns to the North Pole (5:30 to 8:00 PM)
TrainTastic’s regular programs continue alongside the holiday events, including Homeschool S.T.E.A.M. Day (December 2) and Tykes & Trains for ages 4 and under (December 8).
What Are Santa Sightings at TrainTastic?
Santa Sightings are a Santa meet and greet that comes with general admission to the museum. There is nothing extra to buy, so they are an easy way to add a little holiday magic to a regular visit.
- November 27, 28, and 29: 2:00 to 5:00 PM
- December 2: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, alongside Homeschool S.T.E.A.M. Day
- December 8: 9:00 to 11:00 AM, alongside Tykes & Trains
What Is Holiday Lights at TrainTastic?
Holiday Lights is TrainTastic’s festive after-hours family event, and it is the easiest way to see the museum in its holiday glow, with more than 2 million twinkling lights.
- Dates: December 4, 5, 11, 18, 19, and 26
- Time: 5:30 to 8:00 PM
- Price: $25 per person
- What is included: Christmas light displays, outdoor train rides, sock skating, hot chocolate, Santa photos, and holiday crafts
- Available to purchase: S’mores and CHEW-CHEW Concessions
- Tickets: A separate event ticket is required, and regular museum admission does not cover it. Book through the event page.
Holiday Lights works well for families with kids of different ages, grandparents, and out-of-town guests, because everyone can move through the evening at their own speed. December 26 is a nice bonus date for families with visitors in town after Christmas, when the lights stay on after Santa returns to the North Pole.
What Is the Polar Experience at TrainTastic?
The Polar Experience is TrainTastic’s cozy pajama night, built around Santa’s bell ceremony. Think trains, hot cocoa, and a night that feels like a tradition in the making.
- Dates: December 6, 10, 13, 17, and 20
- Time: 5:30 to 8:00 PM
- Price: $30 per child (ages 1 to 12) and $20 for ages 13 and up
- What is included: Christmas light displays, outdoor train rides, sock skating, hot chocolate, Santa photos, holiday crafts, s’mores, and a Santa bell ceremony with a keepsake bell for each child ages 1 to 12, plus a free 6×8 photo with all digital images
- Tickets: A separate event ticket is required. Reserve through the event page.
Pajamas are encouraged. The nights fill fast, and the weekend dates closest to Christmas tend to go first, so reserve early.
How Is the Polar Experience Different From Holiday Lights?
Both events are after-hours holiday nights with light displays, train rides, sock skating, hot chocolate, Santa photos, and crafts. The Polar Experience adds the pieces that make it feel like a keepsake night.
Holiday Lights is the festive, flexible option. It is the better pick when you want a holiday outing with the lights, the trains, and Santa without much to plan around.
The Polar Experience is the tradition option. It adds the Santa bell ceremony with a keepsake for each child, s’mores, and a pajama-night atmosphere, and it comes with a free photo. It is the better pick when you want a special tradition for your kids.
Plenty of families do both. If you only have time for one, choose Holiday Lights for the lights and the flexibility, and the Polar Experience for the bell ceremony and the keepsakes.
What Is Gingerbread Express With Santa?
Gingerbread Express with Santa is a new morning holiday event at TrainTastic. Families decorate a gingerbread train, meet Santa privately, and take home photos.
- Date and time: Saturday, December 19, 10 AM to 12 PM (this date only)
- Price: $40 add-on for up to four participants, on top of general admission
- What is included: One gingerbread train decorating kit, toppings and extra supplies, a private meet-and-greet with Santa and a photographer, VIP digital photo access, one free 6×8 framed print, and a hot cocoa bar
- Tickets: Book the add-on through the event page. Space is limited, so book early.
Because the experience is an add-on to general admission, your group also gets the museum for the day. It is the best fit for families with young children who do better in the morning, or anyone who would rather skip an evening event. Since it falls on the same day as a Holiday Lights night, families can come back at 5:30 PM for the lights if they want a full day of holiday fun.
For questions, you can reach TrainTastic at 228-284-5731 or marketing@traintastic.com.
What Is the Conductor’s Ball?
The Conductor’s Ball Presented by The Mueller Family is TrainTastic’s holiday fundraiser for adults ages 21 and over, held Saturday, December 12, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. It features Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos, a welcome champagne and toast, dinner stations, a digital silent auction, the Igloo Lounge, dancing, and holiday photo opportunities. Festive attire is encouraged, and black tie is not required. Ticket prices range from $95 to $185.
Proceeds support TrainTastic’s hands-on learning programs for Gulf Coast families, including programs like Ticket to Learn, presented by Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union. It is a night out, but it is also a way to help keep the museum accessible to children across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Tickets are available at traintastic.com/conductors-ball-2026/tickets, and sponsorships are available too.
When Is TrainTastic Closed for the Holidays?
TrainTastic will be closed on Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24) and Christmas Day (Friday, December 25). Plan around those dates, and check the TrainTastic events calendar for any additional schedule changes.
One more change to note: on Sunday, December 13, the museum is closed from 1:00 to 5:00 PM for a private event. Doors reopen at 5:30 PM for the Polar Experience, which runs until 8:00 PM.
How Can You Choose the Right Holiday Event for Your Family?
Use this quick guide:
- Families with toddlers and preschoolers: Gingerbread Express with Santa on the morning of December 19, or Tykes & Trains on December 8 for ages 4 and under.
- Families with elementary-age kids: The Polar Experience, especially for children ages 1 to 12, who each receive a keepsake bell.
- Multigenerational groups: Holiday Lights, because the flexible pace makes group planning easy.
- Adults looking for a night out: The Conductor’s Ball on December 12.
- Out-of-town visitors: Holiday Lights on December 26, or any Friday or Saturday night.
- Families who want the whole experience: Gingerbread Express in the morning and Holiday Lights that night, both on December 19.
What Are Some Tips for Booking Holiday Events?
- Book early. The evening events need their own tickets, and the Polar Experience and Gingerbread Express with Santa are the most likely to fill.
- Check dates twice. Holiday Lights runs on specific Fridays and Saturdays, not every weekend.
- Dress for comfort. Pajamas are encouraged at the Polar Experience, and sock skating means socks come in handy at the after-hours events.
- Bring a camera. The lights, the trains, and Santa make for good photos.
- Plan dinner ahead. Evening events start at 5:30 PM, so eat before you arrive or plan a late dinner afterward. Full concessions, including pizza by the slice and popcorn, will be available.
- Bring grandparents. These events are designed for families, and grandparents often become the best part of the night.
- Visiting without a ticketed event? Santa Sightings come with general admission, so stop by on November 27 to 29, December 2, or December 8.
- Check each event page for age guidelines before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What holiday events does TrainTastic have in 2026?
TrainTastic hosts Holiday Lights, the Polar Experience, Gingerbread Express with Santa, and the Conductor’s Ball this December.
When is Holiday Lights at TrainTastic?
Holiday Lights runs from 5:30 to 8:00 PM on December 4, 5, 11, 18, 19, and 26.
How much is Holiday Lights?
Holiday Lights is $25 per person.
What is included in Holiday Lights?
Holiday Lights includes more than 2 million twinkling lights, outdoor train rides, sock skating, hot chocolate, Santa photos, and holiday crafts. S’mores and CHEW-CHEW Concessions are available to purchase.
When is the Polar Experience at TrainTastic?
The Polar Experience takes place December 6, 10, 13, 17, and 20, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Admission is $30 for ages 1 to 12 and $20 for ages 13 and up.
What is Gingerbread Express with Santa?
It is a morning experience on Saturday, December 19, from 10 AM to 12 PM only, where families decorate a gingerbread train, enjoy a hot cocoa bar, and have a private meet-and-greet with Santa and a photographer. It is a $40 add-on for up to four participants on top of general admission, and it includes a decorating kit, VIP digital photo access, and one free 6×8 framed print.
When is the Conductor’s Ball?
The Conductor’s Ball Presented by The Mueller Family is Saturday, December 12, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. It is an event for ages 21 and over.
What are Santa Sightings?
Santa Sightings are a Santa meet and greet included with general admission. They take place November 27, 28, and 29 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, December 2 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and December 8 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. There is no extra charge.
Is the museum open all day on December 13?
No. TrainTastic is closed from 1:00 to 5:00 PM on December 13 for a private event, then reopens at 5:30 PM for the Polar Experience, which runs until 8:00 PM.
Is food available at the evening events?
Yes. Full concessions, including pizza by the slice and popcorn, will be available, along with s’mores and CHEW-CHEW Concessions.
Is TrainTastic open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
No. TrainTastic is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance for holiday events?
Yes. Holiday Lights, the Polar Experience, and the Conductor’s Ball require separate event tickets, and regular museum admission does not cover them. Gingerbread Express with Santa is a $40 add-on to general admission. Book through the event pages, and book early for the events that fill up.
What is the difference between Holiday Lights and the Polar Experience?
Both are after-hours holiday nights with lights, train rides, sock skating, hot chocolate, Santa photos, and crafts. The Polar Experience adds a Santa bell ceremony with a keepsake bell for each child ages 1 to 12, s’mores, and a free photo, with a cozy pajama theme.
Reserve Your Holiday Dates at TrainTastic
The best nights fill up first. Check the full calendar, choose your dates, and reserve your Gulfport holiday events at TrainTastic today!
