If you've been trying to get tickets to Pullen Park's Holiday Express and coming up empty, you aren't alone. The event, which turns the park into a holiday wonderland from Tuesday, December 1 to Thursday, December 17, sold out almost immediately after going on sale in October, with more than 40,000 tickets gone. The demand was so high that the night of December 17 was overbooked by 2,200 tickets; those ticket holders are being contacted to pick another night.
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For anyone who did manage to snag a spot, here is how the evenings are set up. The event runs from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., though if your train ticket is for 4:30 or 5:00, you can get into the park and onto the train starting at 4:15; no other activities open until 5:00. Tickets are $21 plus tax and fees per person, they're non-refundable, and you'll need to show yours digitally at the gate. Everyone age one and up needs one, so only children under 12 months go free. The train time on your ticket is mandatory, with no changes allowed, and resale is strictly limited to face value through Ticketmaster, backed by North Carolina Secretary of State certification.
Once inside, the train ride is only one part of the evening. The lineup includes a holiday countdown, the Enchanted Elevator to the North Pole, Santa's Toy Shop, the Club Cocoa Lounge and Court, a s'more station, the Yeti Hunt, Glistening Glen, Reindeer Flight School, Arctic Avenue, the Rotary Igloo Experience, and the Pullen Cafe, plus a gift shop at the welcome center. The historic Dentzel carousel is also part of the experience. The train itself holds up to three people per seat, and wait times tend to run 15 to 30 minutes.
Families with sensory needs have a dedicated window: sensory-friendly events are scheduled for Sunday, December 6 and Sunday, December 13, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The whole thing is presented by WRAL and sponsored by the City of Raleigh and the Rotary Club of Crabtree, with a long list of local businesses attached to different stations.
Weather is the one thing that can change plans. The event runs in light rain or snow, but severe conditions — heavy rain, strong winds, lightning, or extreme cold with ice and snow — can shut it down. Cancellations are announced at noon on the day of the event via email and the website. If you're still hoping to get involved, the event is looking for volunteers for the December 3-6 and December 10-13 shifts, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. You have to be at least 15, register online by Sunday, November 22, and attend a mandatory orientation on Monday, November 30, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Pullen Community Center.
It's worth remembering where this all lands. Pullen Park, at 520 Ashe Avenue, covers 66.4 acres and is the first public park in North Carolina, as well as one of the oldest operating amusement parks in the country. The Dentzel carousel alone dates back to around 1912, with 52 hand-carved animals and a Wurlitzer organ from 1924. Outside of the holiday event, park admission is free, though rides are $2 a person, and the best time to visit is on a weekday. For the most current ride hours, the park lists 919-996-6472.
Published Date
19 October 2026
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