Holiday Express

Event Information

Dates: Tuesday, Dec. 2 - Thursday, Dec. 18
Time: 5 - 9:30 p.m.

• Your ticket allows you entrance to the event and all activities starting at 5 p.m.
• For those with 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. train ride tickets, you will have access to the park and train line starting at 4:15 p.m. No other event activities will open until 5 p.m.
• Each guest in your party 1 year or older requires a ticket.
• All guests require a ticket regardless of whether they will be riding the train.
• Your train ride time is listed on your ticket. Please arrive to the train line with your entire party at that time.
• All activities at the event are included in the price of your ticket. There are no additional costs except for snacks from the café stands and souvenirs.

Sponsors

The City of Raleigh and the Rotary Club of Crabtree would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous contributions to Holiday Express 2025.

Train
Duke Energy

Carousel
WRAL

Igloo Experience
Wake-Med

Gold
Genesis of Cary

Lights
CSP Inc.

Red
Coke Enterprises 
Mulch Masters
York Properties

Green
Wake Remodeling 
KICKS Taekwondo 
Bailey's Fine Jewelry
Empire Eats
Wells Fargo Advisors
Appletree Day Care
Lifetime Asset

Santa’s Helper
S J Adams Insurance 
Morningstar Law Firm 
Stevens, Martin, Vaughn & Tadych
Triangle on the Cheap
David and Elizabeth Meisner
City of Oaks Law
Triangle Repair Group
Todd Rust
Pleasant Electric

In-Kind
City of Oaks Pétanque and Carolina Pétanque

For more information on becoming a sponsor of Holiday Express, please email HolidayExpress@Raleighnc.gov.

Sensory Friendly Event Information

Dates: Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 14
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.

Back by popular demand is a sensory-friendly event. This event is designed to create a more enjoyable atmosphere for individuals with sensory needs. This sensory-friendly event will include:

• Lower-decibel music
• Decreased capacity to provide more space between crowds
• Less walking between activities
• Access to a quiet area to decompress from sensory overload.

Sensory Friendly Tickets

• Saturday, Dec. 6
• Sunday, Dec. 14

While you will be enjoying our holiday lights during daylight hours, there will still be some lights that have easy or slow movements. Sensory bags with headphones, fidgets, and additional supplies will be available.

Activities

This is an outdoor event – please dress accordingly. Indoor space will not be available for guests. We will operate in light rain and/or snow. 

Holidays Highway
Join us for a stroll around the lake and remember some of our best holidays of the year. You will ring in the New Year as you enter the Holidays Highway at the top of the stairs near the event lawn.  Make your way along the path to take a selfie with a cupid or a leprechaun. Enjoy the flowers and bunnies before walking through our patriotic area and more.

The Holiday Express
Your designated ride time is located on your event ticket. Arrive with your entire group at the train station at your scheduled time. Three guests maximum to a seat, including children and infants. Wait time may be between 15-30 minutes. 

Enchanted Elevator
Step into this magical elevator for a whimsical experience which will lift you up and out of Pullen Park and away to the North Pole.   You never know what surprises may await you when you walk out that other side!

Santa’s Toy Shop
Santa has transformed our Southern Railroad caboose into his mobile workshop, where he’s been storing some of the toys the elves have finished. In addition, it’s become his home away from home while he’s in Raleigh! Stop by for a walk-through experience where you might even be able to see the big man himself! Due to the popularity of this experience, traditional sit-down photo opportunities will not be available, but you will likely have time for a brief chat and maybe even a selfie for the digital scrapbook.
Please note that this experience may be modified or removed due to circumstances beyond our control.  

Club Cocoa Lounge ($) - New for 2025
New this holiday season, the Pullen Cafe is bringing some extra cheer to Holiday Express with a festive hot chocolate bar located in Shelter 1. Guests can warm up with rich hot chocolate and customize their cup with a variety of delicious toppings. In addition, the Pullen Cafe will continue to offer a wide selection of food options, including choices for guests with dietary restrictions and allergies, so everyone in the family can enjoy a treat.

For more information about the Pullen Cafe, or to see this year's Holiday Express menu, visit www.PullenCafe.com 

S'more Station
Enjoy a delicious complimentary treat and learn about holiday fire safety from the Raleigh Fire Department. 

Carousel
Lions, tigers, and REINDEER, oh my! Choose your favorite animal and enjoy unlimited rides on the historic Dentzel carousel while singing along to some of your favorite holiday tunes played on our authentic Wurlitzer organ.

Candy Cane Lane
Visit the crafty elves and create your own souvenir to bring home with you. While you’re up there, don’t forget to make a bag of reindeer food to bring home for the nine high flyers on their big night. Have you written your letter to Santa yet? Stop by the post office and take some time to write a letter or drop off the one you brought with you. Take a turn on our candy-themed inflatables and games, including Hansel and Gretel’s Great Escape.

Reindeer Roundup
Santa’s Reindeer are loose!  We need YOUR help to find them all to make sure they’re ready to fly off in Santa’s sleigh! Get your Reindeer Tracker from Shelter 4 before starting your adventure.  At the end of your night’s work, don’t forget to stop by the Sleigh Barn or Gift Shop to claim your prize.

Gift Shop/Welcome Center
If you have any issues or emergencies, stop by the welcome center for immediate assistance. 

This is also the spot for fun-themed merchandise, including our $15 limited-edition carousel animal ornaments, or our train ornament from the Charleston Mint! This year’s edition will be a replica of one of the lions. 

Sensory bags with headphones, fidgets, and additional supplies will be available.

Gingerbread Grove
Experience our 27-foot-tall Gingerbread Glide, the Gumdrop Grab, and the Gingerbread Jam.  The gameplay is unlimited, so take as many chances as you need to get a high score.

Reindeer Flight School - New for 2025 
Have you ever wanted to see if Reindeer really know how to fly? Help our holiday friends take flight as you aim to score the most points in 60 seconds.

Arctic Avenue
Visit this frosty playground where you can participate in a variety of games and activities like the Frosty Fling and the Penguin Escape! Get your dancing shoes on for our Blizzard Boogie with an assortment of games, prizes, and our always-popular snowball fight!

Rotary Igloo Experience - New for 2025
What’s better than one Igloo?  Two! Come experience this brand-new photo op and unique play area, hosted by the Rotary Club of Crabtree.   

Inclement Weather Plan
In the case of severe weather (rain with extremely wet conditions, high winds and/or lightning, extremely cold conditions with ice and/or snow), Holiday Express may be canceled. Weather conditions are evaluated on a daily basis. Event cancellations will be made by noon on the day of the event. Registered guests will be notified by email, and information will be posted on the Holiday Express website.   Available rain date options will be presented at that time.

Refunds
All sales are final, and no refunds will be provided. Tickets may be resold at face value. Questions regarding extenuating circumstances may be emailed to holidayexpress@raleighnc.gov

Holiday Express Parking Information

• Please pay attention to the specific parking information for the date of your event ticket.
• Due to the limited availability of parking on-site, we are requesting that all guests follow the parking guidelines below.
• Note that the information is not the same for all event nights.

 Accessible Parking and Guests with Mobility Challenges

• Please come to the Pullen Park main parking lot located at 520 Ashe Avenue after 4 p.m. (12 p.m. for sensory days).
• Accessible spaces are limited, and the parking attendants will direct you to the best available parking.
• You may be asked to drop your guests off at the front of the park before parking your vehicle elsewhere.

Shuttle/Hunt Drive Parking Dates   

12/11, 12/12, 12/17, 12/18

• 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. train ride tickets specifically: Starting at 4 p.m., please park at the Pullen Park main parking lot located at 520 Ashe Avenue. The event gates will open at 4:15 so that you can make it to your train on time.
• For any other train times, please arrive well before your train ride time and drive directly to the shuttle bus parking lot on Dix Park property: 100 Hunt Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603
• There is no pass required for the shuttle.
• A free shuttle will bring you to the Pullen Park entrance.
• The first shuttle for the day departs Hunt Drive at 4 p.m.
• The last shuttle for the night departs Pullen Park at 10 p.m.
• Shuttles will run every 15 minutes 

Coliseum Parking Deck Dates

12/2, 12/3, 12/4, 12/5, 12/6 evening, 12/7, 12/8, 12/9, 12/10, 12/13, 12/14 evening, 12/15, 12/16

• Standard parking will be located in the Coliseum Parking Deck at NC State University.
• The event gates will open at 4:15 for those with 4:30 and 5:00 train ride tickets.
• The parking deck can be accessed via Western Boulevard in either direction by heading to Pullen Road and then turning onto Dunn Ave.
• Parking is free of charge with the appropriate permit registration.
• Please abide by all posted signage regarding any restricted spaces.
• This lot is a short walk from the back entrance of Pullen Park, which is the main event entrance.

Parking Deck Permit Information:

• Please claim your parking pass only when you are at the deck and ready to park, as it becomes active immediately upon claiming.
• The permit will show 90 minutes. This is OK and all you will need for valid parking during the entirety of the event. Please return to your cars by 10:30 p.m.

1. Holiday Express Parking Pass
   (This link will be active starting 12/1)
2. Ensure you are not logged into your parking account.
3. Enter your license plate number and state when prompted.
4. Select Add

• Remember, the permit is virtual; your license plate is your permit.
• The permit is only valid for the one vehicle entered.
• The permit is not valid in pay-by-plate locations.
• Do not back-in or pull-through to park without a front plate.
• The License Plate must face the traffic lane.
• For assistance with the Coliseum Deck Parking Permit, please call the NC State University Transportation Office at 919-515-3424.

5. There will be construction taking place in the area and it is recommended to leave the parking deck via Cates Avenue to Dan Allen Drive in order to limit congestion.

Sensory Friendly Days Parking Information

12/6 Afternoon  and 12/14 Afternoon 

• Enter the Pullen Park main parking lot located at 520 Ashe Avenue after 12 p.m.
• Accessible spaces are limited, and the parking attendants will direct you to the best available parking.
• If needed, guests may be dropped off at the front park entrance before you park your vehicle.

Ride Share/Drop Off

• Enter the main Pullen Park lot located at 520 Ashe Avenue.
• Let the parking attendant know you are dropping off.

Ticketing

• Tickets are limited to 8 per household/credit card/IP Address.  Any guests who have purchased more than 8 tickets may have all of their tickets canceled.
• Tickets are $17+ tax and fees per guest and are non-refundable. Tickets can be gifted or resold at face value.  Tickets are required for all guests ages one and older (12 months and under do not require a ticket.)
• The train time you purchase is the time you are required to ride.  Requests for changes to train times cannot be honored. Please arrive at the train station at your scheduled time. Wait times may be between 15-30 minutes.
• Tickets may be transferred to other guests in accordance with Ticketmaster policies and procedures.
• Screenshots or printouts of tickets will not be accepted. Please be prepared to show your digital ticket at the event entrance.
• For ticketing help, contact Ticketmaster.
• For event-specific questions, please contact HolidayExpress@Raleighnc.gov   

The resale of admission tickets for Holiday Express at Pullen Park is limited in accordance with the certification from the Secretary of State of North Carolina.

Please use caution when interacting with 3^rd parties that you do not know. Official event tickets are only sold and transferred via Ticketmaster and should not be sold for more than face value.