Holiday Express

Event Information

Dates: December 2 - 18
Times: 5-9:30 p.m.

View the 2024 Holiday Express Map

*Gates will open for all guests at 4:30 p.m. on each date except Dec. 7 and 15  to accommodate an earlier train ride added this year due to guest demand. During this additional 30 minutes, we will have limited activities and experiences available including Santa Claus, the Reindeer Food, and the Crafty Elves stations, with the full event set to open at 5 p.m.

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 2024.

Silver
Johnson Lexus

Train Sponsor
Duke Energy

Carousel Sponsor
WRAL

Snow Globe
Wake Med

Red
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
Empire Eats
The UnIntentionals
York Properties, Inc

Green
KICKS Taekwondo 
Lifetime Asset Management, LLC 
Morningstar Law Group
North State Bank
Raleigh Picnic Co.
The Mulch Masters of NC, Inc
Tru Motors, LLC 
Wake Remodeling
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

Santa's Helpers
Appletree Day Care/Applebee's Childcare Development Center-  
City of Oaks Law 
GMH Realty
HIS Radio 107.7
Kane Realty
Khyiah T. Byrd International Foundation
Kratt Dedmond & Associates 
Todd L. Rust, Managing Director- Investments, Well Fargo Advisors, LLC.
Pleasants Electric
SJ Adams, Inc
Stevens Martin Vaughn & Tadych PLLC
Triangle on the Cheap DOT Com/ Mace. Publishing LLC
Triangle Repair Group

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

Holiday Express Parking

• Main parking for Holiday Express will be free and located at the Coliseum Parking Deck on the NC State University Campus.
• The deck can be accessed via Western Boulevard in either direction by heading towards Pullen Road and then turning onto Dunn Ave. 

Please note that sections of the deck may be unavailable, and you should abide by the signage posted. 

• This location is a short walk from the back of Pullen Park where the event entrance is located. 
• Accessible parking and spaces for those with mobility needs are available at the Pullen Park lot located at 520 Ashe Avenue. 
• Rideshare/drop-off should enter the Pullen Park lot located at 520 Ashe Avenue and then make a left towards the main entrance. 
• Other vehicles may be turned away at this location.

Free Parking Permit Details

• 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. Visit Pullen Park Holiday Express Coliseum Deck Parking 
2. Ensure you are not logged into your parking account.
3. Enter your license plate number and state when prompted.
4. Select Add

Important Parking Information

• 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 please call the NC State University Transportation Office at 919-515-3424.

Sensory Friendly Event Information

Dates: Dec. 7 and 15
Times: 3 - 5 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.

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.

Your ticket grants you entry to the park at 3 p.m., with your specific train time being selected at purchase.

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. 

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.  

Santa’s Snack Shack
The Pullen Cafe offers a variety of options for all guests, including those with dietary restrictions and/or allergies so everyone in the family can enjoy something. Additionally, Santa’s Snack Shack will be in Shelter 1 to offer an assortment of Holiday treats. For more information about Pullen Café or to see this year’s Holiday Express menu, visit www.PullenCafe.com or call 919-803-0030. 

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 highflyers 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.

ELF I.T. (In Training)
On Santa’s sleigh ride into Raleigh, a whole bunch of his presents fell out of the sleigh as he was coming in for a landing.  We need YOUR help to find these presents hidden all around the park. Get your Elf I.D. and  PAL (present activity locator) before starting your training.  At the end of your night’s work, don’t forget to stop inside the welcome center to collect your elf paycheck!

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 carousel horses. 

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

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

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-poplar snowball fight!

Rotary Snow Globe Experience
Ever wonder what it’s like for those people in the scenes on the inside of a snow globe?  Now’s your chance to find out about this extremely popular experience provided 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 12:00 p.m. 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 can be gifted or resold at face value and then shared with the new guests via email or text message. Tickets will retain the information of the original guest who purchased the tickets. Questions regarding extenuating circumstances may be emailed to: holidayexpress@raleighnc.gov

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 plus tax per guest and are non-refundable. Tickets can be gifted or resold at face value and then shared with the new guest via email or text. Tickets will retain the information of the original guest who purchased the tickets. 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 will be emailed to the address you provided (there may be a delay). If you do not see it, please check your SPAM folder, the email will come from Raleigh Parks.   
• For information about the event or specific ticketing questions, call 919-996-6468 or email 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.

To avoid scams, only purchase tickets through the official City of Raleigh system. Please be careful of offers from third-party sellers since we cannot verify their legitimacy.