NYBG Holiday Train Show

A holiday wonder for all ages!

Having gone to the New York Botanical Gardens during spring, summer and fall in the past years, we’ve finally made it to the Holiday Train Show and it was spectacular ! The event is very much a must-see attraction during the holidays in New York City, on par with the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and department store holiday windows.

This enchanting exhibit consists of many famous New York City landmarks from all five boroughs meticulously hand-crafted using natural recycled materials such as twigs, bark, stems, seeds, pine cones, fruits and more. Each of the fascinating pieces are displayed on beds of moss, with a lush landscape made of conifers, evergreen and holly. There is even a waterfall made from a recycled tree root creating a stream of water running through the exhibit. Look out for the many varieties of train models passing by as well as on the overhead bridges. There are plenty of Christmas trees, holiday decor and twinkling lights in the surroundings making it very festive for the season.

While the exhibit is in its 28th year, this is the first time it’s being housed in a climate controlled, larger indoor winter wonderland space. It's a normal home in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is currently being partially renovated. We purposely visited after sunset to enjoy the holidays lights and were not disappointed. Note, I’d imagine the exhibit looks good in the daytime too as some of the windows were opaque and some covered in sheer curtain. Staffs were as usual, always friendly and ready to assist.

We had some free time before the exhibit and decided to visit the shop which was a delight. It was beautifully decorated and had many unique gift ideas such as miniature plants, a wide selection of horticulture books and calendars, hand-crafted holiday candy, decor and so much more to shop from. And this time around we opted to have small bites after the exhibit in the cafeteria and though late in the day, the items were still fresh and delicious.

Duration: approximately 1 hour for the train show only at a leisurely pace. Additional time is required if you plan on visiting the conservatory, shop and cafe which is well worth it. There are also variety of festive events to complement the train show. We spent a total of 3 hours.

Important & Accessible Tips:
- Caretaker ticket is free. This free ticket can be requested at any ticketing booth at time of purchase or with online receipt of purchased tickets.
- Most of the exhibits are at eye level for wheelchair users and children to enjoy.
- Accessible restrooms are available. A family restroom is also available in the Watson Building.
- Crowds were definitely a concern prior to attending. We were in the exhibit from 4-5pm and it was manageable, in many of the areas, people moved so that Annie can get a close up.
- Click here for more accessibility tips from our Spring visit.

Schedule & Pricing:

 - The train show runs from November to January.

 - Tickets are sold out early, especially on the weekends closer to holidays, therefore best to book in advance.
- Schedules and pricing are different during this time of the year.
- Click here for full information on NYBG website.

Important: Information is subject to change, please visit https://www.nybg.org/ for the most up to date details.
Oct 2024