NEWSLETTER
One of New York City’s Most Beloved Holiday Experiences Returning for Its 34th Year, Saturday, November 15, 2025, through Sunday, January 11, 2026
Bronx, NY — The Holiday Train Show®, presented by Bank of America, at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), opens Saturday, November 15, 2025, and runs through Sunday, January 11, 2026, for its 34th year of enchanting train displays and cherished seasonal traditions. Back with more magic, more memories, and the best value of the season, the Holiday Train Show offers something for everyone—with two ways to experience it: day or night. Tickets are available for purchase at www.nybg.org.
After more than three decades, the Holiday Train Show continues to delight, as New York City’s favorite winter tradition and a can’t-miss adventure. The timeless magic of rail travel fills NYBG with seasonal cheer as model trains travel over famous bridges and through familiar City settings, bringing nearly 200 twinkling landmark replicas—including new surprises for 2025/2026—to life under the glass of the warm and welcoming Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Get up close to see these miniature masterpieces, each one meticulously crafted from plant parts such as palm fronds, pinecones, and cinnamon sticks, fusing horticulture with design throughout the exhibition. Outside, explore a glowing mountain-scape brimming with even more trains and picture-perfect moments. Journey through the exhibition with friends and loved ones after dark and see the show in a charming new light on select evenings during Holiday Train Nights. Whether young or old, the Holiday Train Show has sparked wonder in generations of visitors—and it’s the City’s best way to celebrate the season with all your loved ones.
The Holiday Train Show is renowned for its vignettes of G-scale model trains enlivening botanical replicas of famous New York landmarks in miniature—some no longer standing, like the first Yankee Stadium or the original Penn Station—each delightfully re-created from natural materials such as leaves, seeds, twigs, bark, and acorns by the creative team at Applied Imagination in Alexandria, Kentucky. American steam engines, streetcars from the late 1800s, and modern freight and passenger trains travel indoors in the Conservatory’s galleries along overhead trestles, through tunnels, across soaring structures such as the Brooklyn Bridge, and in an enchanting woodland outdoor display over towering mountains with forest animals, winter-interest plants, and fungi on the Conservatory Lawn, providing merriment for young and old alike.
Two New Replicas This Year
A new miniature masterpiece joins this year’s Holiday Train Show lineup: a botanical replica of the recently reopened and renovated Delacorte Theater, longtime home to The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park. It appears alongside a Central Park tableau that includes the Gothic Arch, Belvedere Castle, the Music Pavilion, the Angel of the Waters Bethesda Fountain, the Dairy, and Cop Cot. The model was constructed using bark from a variety of trees including ash, locust, and hickory, all sustainably gathered in the forests near the Applied Imagination studio in Kentucky. Special funding for The Delacorte model is made possible by Larry E. Condon.
Another striking new addition to this year’s exhibition is a botanical recreation of the Whitney Museum of American Art Leonard A. Lauder Building, an architectural icon of modern design. The intricate model captures the museum’s distinctive asymmetrical façade and tiered terraces, crafted entirely from natural materials including polished horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) bark, reeds (Phragmites sp.) and winged euonymus (Euonymus sp.).
One of NYC’s Most Affordable Holiday Traditions
Whether planning a festive day trip with the kids or looking for an unforgettable outing with loved ones, the Holiday Train Show at NYBG stands out as one of the most affordable holiday experiences in New York City, with tickets starting at $25. Compared to the high cost of other seasonal outings, NYBG’s daytime admission, especially during off-peak weekdays, offers the best value for families, friend groups, and holiday explorers. Daytime admission offers full access to the Holiday Train Show, where you can see replicas of Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Macy’s flagship store to name a few, all made of plant materials. Admission also includes access to NYBG’s historic landscape and gardens, perfect for family-friendly fun, casual holiday strolls, and budget-savvy seasonal memories.
From the warmth of NYBG’s landmark glasshouse to the picture-perfect outdoor display, witness by day or night a meticulously crafted world brimming with the lively energy of
New York City during the holidays. Whether reliving favorite memories and traditions or creating new ones, the Holiday Train Show at NYBG invites everyone to discover the joyful spirit of the season. Amidst the sparkle and spectacle of New York’s holiday season, with both daytime and nighttime options, the Holiday Train Show at NYBG delivers an unforgettable experience at unbelievable value, especially if you include an NYBG Membership—the perfect gift for others or a personal treat for yourself that includes tickets to the Holiday Train Show and repeat visits to NYBG all year. It’s the ideal way to share holiday cheer with the people you love—without breaking the bank.
Holiday Train Nights: A Premium Evening Experience
For those looking for a different kind of holiday magic, Holiday Train Nights on select evenings offer a premium, elevated nighttime experience. Visitors of all ages are welcome, but these special evenings are designed for those who want a more atmospheric, after-dark celebration. Sip seasonal beverages, stroll the illuminated exhibition, and shop for everyone on your list, while enjoying the festive setting under twinkling lights. It’s the perfect night out, whether planning a date, gathering friends, or seeking a more elegant experience.
The warm glow of the Haupt Conservatory with colorful lighting brings the holiday spirit under glass. Marvel at multiple beautifully lit Conservatory scenes, from the cactus-filled desert to the lush rainforest galleries, which offer truly card-worthy holiday photo opportunities at every turn. Bop along to holiday classics and Christmas pop favorites sung by performers. The night is made complete with sweet and savory bites and spiked cider cocktails and mocktails for purchase. The “Bar Car” is back with a 21+ only bar at the Hudson Garden Grill Patio. Holiday Train Nights take place on select evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. Holiday Train Nights are ticketed through NYBG’s presenting partner Fever.
For more information about the Holiday Train Show, please visit: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2024/
About The New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) has been a connective hub among people, plants, and the shared planet since 1891. For more than 130 years, NYBG has been rooted in the cultural fabric of New York City, in the heart of the Bronx, its greenest borough. NYBG has invited millions of visitors to make the Garden a part of their lives, exploring the joy, beauty, and respite of nature. NYBG’s 250 acres are home to renowned exhibitions, immersive botanical experiences, art and music, and events with some of the most influential figures in plant and fungal science, horticulture, and the humanities. NYBG is also a steward of globally significant research collections, from the LuEsther T. Mertz Library collection to the plant and fungal specimens in the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, the largest such collection in the Western Hemisphere.
The plant people of NYBG—dedicated horticulturists, enthusiastic educators, and scientific adventurers—are committed to helping nature thrive so that humanity can thrive. They believe in their ability to make things better, teaching tens of thousands of kids and families each year about the importance of safeguarding the environment and healthy eating. Expert scientists work across the city, the nation, and the globe to document the plants and fungi of the world—and find actionable, nature-based solutions to the planet’s dual climate and biodiversity crises. With eyes always looking forward, they train the next generation of botanists, gardeners, landscape designers, and environmental stewards, ensuring a green future for all. At NYBG, it’s nature—or nowhere.
The Holiday Train Show at NYBG is sure to be unforgettable, offering endless discoveries while creating new memories and traditions for visitors of all ages. For more information, visit nybg.org.
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Presenting Sponsor:
Bank of America
Founding Sponsors:
Victoria and Robert Zoellner
Sponsors:
Jenny Brorsen and Rich DeMartini
The Person First
Digital experience provided by: Bloomberg Philanthropies
Exhibitions in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory are made possible by the Estate of Enid A. Haupt.
The New York Botanical Garden is located at 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York 10458. For more information, visit nybg.org.
The New York Botanical Garden is located on property owned in full by the City of New York, and its operation is made possible in part by public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. A portion of the Garden’s general operating funds is provided by The New York City Council and The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. The Bronx Borough President and Bronx elected representatives in the City Council and State Legislature provide leadership funding.
Media Contacts: Nick Leshi at nleshi@nybg.org