All aboard for the 34th annual New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) Holiday Train Show® 2025 in Bronx, New York. For the past eight years, Luxury Experience has made the NYBG Holiday Train Show® a part of our holiday tradition. Opening on November 15, 2025, and running until January 11, 2026, the show is a beloved part of many families’ holiday traditions. Each year that we have attended, the show has always been magical, however the Holiday Train Show® 2025 is even more spectacular. Laura Busse Dolan and her team at Applied Imagination have created an enchanted experience for visitors of all ages with their miniature replica creations of famous New York landmarks enhanced with model trains running through the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, with strolling train conductors happy to pose for photos. Happy Holidays!
For us, like so many people, we like to keep and celebrate holiday traditions, like drinking hot mulled cider, hot cocoa brimming with gooey marshmallows, making and eating gingerbread cookies, decorating sugar cookies, and visiting the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show® to get us into the holiday spirit. We had the pleasure of attending the Holiday Train Show® on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, before the show opened on November 15, 2025, and once again, we were surprised and delighted with the new arrangement of sumptuously decorated Christmas trees and the addition of replica deer and their fawns nestled among them.
Brooklyn Bridge
Strolling train conductors jauntily dressed in blue uniforms and caps guided visitors into the show where a wonderous world of 200 iconic New York buildings awaited them to experience what was created from bits of nature – seeds, twigs, bark, nuts, resin, and other plant materials. Imagine seeing the Brooklyn Bridge, created from the bark of oak, elm, ash, and honey locust trees, with model trains running back and forth over the bridge. The show requires visitors to look high, low, and at eye level to fully experience and to see all of the creative wonders, while model trains ranging in size from Z (the smallest), N, HO, to G (the largest), zip by the replica buildings, through tunnels, and over bridges, for a full sensory experience as holiday created the perfect holiday vibe.
Model Train Scale
In addition to New York City landmarks, the show also includes Historic Homes of the Hudson River Valley, including Olana, circa 1891, Fredric Edwin Church Residence, Hurst Pierpoint Estate circa 1867, Garrison, and others.
Hurst Pierpoint Estate 1867
Whether large-scale or small, the replica miniature architecture is always stunning. A few of the New York landmark buildings that caught our attention this year was the Rose Center for Earth and Space, (2000) The American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 81st Street with its resin and stick windows; Bethesda Terrace (1863) Central Park with its intricate columns and double staircases, and the Angel of the Waters (1873) Bethesda Fountain Central Park nestled amidst lush plants and orchids with the NYBG train running by. It is interesting to note that the angel’s wings are made of tulip tree seeds. The Coney Island buildings and Ferris wheel were also magical set in their tropical setting with palms, poinsettias, and other flowers.
Coney Island Building & Ferris Wheel
There is always something new each year, and for the 2025 show, there is The Delacorte Theatre, home to The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park, made from the bark of ash, locust, and hickory trees sustainably gathered in the forests near the Applied Imagination studio in Kentucky. Also new for 2025 is the large-scale spectacular replica of the Whitney Museum of Aemerican Art using polished horse chestnut bark and a new reflective plant-based resin. This year there are signs located next to some of the buildings asking visitors the question: “What am I?,” which provides hints as to the materials used to create them, which engages the imagination and is also educational.
Whitney Museum of American Art
We had the opportunity to meet with Laura Busse Dolan during the show, and it was interesting to learn what happens to the buildings after the show ends on January 11, 2025. Each of the buildings will be carefully nestled in special crates and will “sleep” in a warehouse in New York until the next show when they will be refreshed if needed, to enchant and captivate the hearts of visitors once again.
Laura Busse Colan, Owner Applied Imagination
The Holiday Train Show® 2025 runs until January 11, 2025, and should not be missed. Until next time, wishing you and your family the happiest of holiday seasons!
Holiday Train Show® 2025 runs until January 11, 2026
Hours: The Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm and select Monday holidays.
Admission Holiday Train Show® 2025 offers a choice of Off-Peak, Peak, or Flex Tickets.
Adults: Off-Peak: $35, Peak: $39, Flex: +$10
Seniors 65+/Students: Off-Peak: $31, Peak: $35, Flex: +$10
Children (2-12): Off-Peak: $25, Peak: $27, Flex: +$10
Children (under 2): Free
Member/Patron: Free
Enid A Haupt Conservatory
In addition to the Holiday Train Show® daytime programs, they also have Holiday Train Show Nights and other programs.
Holiday Train Show® Nights: November 22, 28, 29, December 6, 12, 13, 20, 21, 26, and 27, 28, 29: January 2, 3, and 10. Tickets: Starting at $43, Members: 20% off, free entry for children under 2
Holiday Train Show® Sensory Friendly Mornings: December 14, 2025, and January 3, 2026. Hours: 9:00 until 11:00 am in the Haupt Conservatory.
Evergreen Express: November 15 until January 11, 2026. Various Times, Adventure Garden. Self-Guided Activities form 10:00 am until 5:00 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm). Guided Activities: 1:30 pm until 4:00 pm on weekdays, and 11:00 am until 4:00 pm on weekends and school breaks.
Please visit the website for more information for the Holiday Train Show® and its programs, tickets, All-Garden Pass, and New York City Resident Grounds Access Pass:
https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2025/
Holiday Train Show® Night Tickets can be purchased at:
https://feverup.com/m/453578?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=453578_nyc&utm_term=366&cp_landing_source=www.nybg
About the NYBG
The New York Botanical Garden is a 250-acre oasis located in Bronx, New York. Founded in 1891, the garden attracts year-round visitors with its exquisite beauty, spectacular exhibitions, and interesting programs. It is a National Historic Landmark located in Bronx, New York where its nearby neighbors include Fordham University and the Bronx Zoo. Do allow a minimum of 3 hours to thoroughly experience the New York Botanical Garden and its many programs.
Bethesda Terrace Central Park 1863
Other special exhibitions and events, such as Members-Only Previews, may cause early closing of Garden areas. Exceptions are also made for evening events, which may take place after normal Garden hours. For specific hours on the day of your visit, please see their calendar on the website: www.nybg.org/plan_your_visit/
The Garden, its buildings, and its tour vehicles are accessible to people with disabilities, except for a few areas where the terrain is naturally uneven. Wheelchairs are available free of charge at both Garden entrances, on a first-come, first-served basis (reservations are not accepted). An ID must be left with Visitor Services. Visit the website for additional information: www.nybg.org/visit/accessibility.php
See you at the NYBG Train Show!
Please visit the website for additional information and admission for the NYBG, The Holiday Train Show®, as well as many upcoming programs and events including their annual Orchid Show in February: www.nybg.com
New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10458
United States
Telephone: +1-718-817-8700
Website: www.nybg.org
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