Events Archive - Roaring Camp Railroads (original) (raw)
Calendar of Events
Categories
Thomas and Percy’s Halloween Party
October 12-13, 19-20, 26-27
Dress up for Halloween with favorites Thomas and Percy, for a 20 minute train ride, entertainment, and fun filled activities for the entire family.
Activities
Photos with Thomas, Percy & Sir Topham Hatt
Thomas Train Play Tables
Pick-A-Pumpkin
Pumpkin Decorating
Live Music with Peter Apel
Mr. Miraculous the Magician
AND MORE!
Holiday Tree Walk
November 29 - December 1, December 7-8, 14-15, 21-22
Get in the holiday spirit by bringing the family to ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain. Sip hot cider while greeting Santa Claus. In town, enjoy winter themed activities.
Activities
Visit from Santa
Hot Cider
Winter Themed Activities
Holiday Lights Train
November 29-30, December 7-8, 14-23
A seasonal tradition returns to Santa Cruz with the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train. Vintage excursion cars, adorned with thousands of colorful lights, roll through city streets past homes of Santa Cruz.
Activities
Holiday Sing-Along
Live Music
Hot-Spiced Cider
Santa Visit
New Year’s Train
Bring in the new year aboard the New Years Holiday Lights Train. Ride vintage train cars beautifully decorated with holiday lights through the streets of Santa Cruz. Light-up hula hoopers and a live DJ will keep spirits bright and help bring in 2025 right.
Activities
Light-Up Hula Hoopers
Live DJ
Private Cars Available
Call to book
Chanukah Train
We’ll share in Chanukah traditions and ride the train through the streets of Santa Cruz listening to Chanukah music and enjoying warm latkas and hot apple cider provided by Chabad by the Sea. Play festive games and win prizes! *Security will be present
Beach Train 1 hr
5:00 pm, 6:30 pm
Activities
Lighting of the Menorah
(15 mins before departure)
Chanukah Games
Kosher Refreshments
Dreidel Mascot
Rainforest Weekends
Weekends January through March
Learn about California's own Coastal Redwood Forest, aboard a 100 year old steam train. Along the journey, hear fascinating information about the coastal redwoods and their ecosystems from docent specialists.
Activities
Learn About the Coastal Redwoods
Craft Table
Georgie's Cookhouse
Eggstraordinary Easter Egg Hunt
The Easter Bunny makes a stop at Roaring Camp. Hop aboard the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain for an Easter Egg Hunt and participate in Easter activities in Town.
Activities
Easter Egg Hunt
* Prizes include toys, candy & free train rides!
Live Music
Easter Crafts
Ride Along Tractors
Blacksmith
Gold Panning
Candle Making
Model Trains
Adults and kids alike will enjoy viewing California Central Coast On30’s large scale model railroad display. Watch model trains chugging through the Redwoods, around railroad bends and over the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Boardwalk with the miniature scale of the Central Coast spread out before them. During your visit be sure to see Roaring Camp’s authentic 1800s steam train.
Activities
Gold Panning
Children's Activities
Blacksmith
Santa Cruz Mountain Mushroom Festival
Drawing on Far West Fungi’s 40 years of experience in the mushroom community, we are gathering the best and the brightest who have shaped the industry to host a massive two-day fungus extravaganza.
Activities
Mushroom Talks
Nature Walks
Cooking Demonstrations
Hands on DIY Booths
Artisan Vendors
Delicious Food Vendors
Educations Booths
Kids Zone
Live Music
Memorial Day
This Memorial Day, take the Redwood Forest Steam Train up to Bear Mountain and return. Join us in the Town of Roaring Camp for family-friendly activities.
No train scheduled.
Activities
Blacksmith
Gold Panning
Bounce Houses
Free Heritage Events
Heritage sounds like something old. Unless you’re talking Heritage Events at Roaring Camp. Free All Summer Long. Must have valid train ticket to participate in heritage activity.
Activities
Free Days
Monday: Blacksmith
Tuesday: Printing Press
Wednesday: Candle Making
Thursday: Crafts
Friday: Gold Panning
Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival
Join us for the 10th annual Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival. The weekend welcomes a variety of artists, multiple stages, camping, train rides including the 'Sol Train' shuttle from the Boardwalk and back again in the evening, craft beer, wine, vendors and gourmet food.
Beach Train Sat & Sun only
11:15 am
Activities
Optional Sol Train
Live Music
Local Breweries
Food Vendors
Blacksmith Hammer-In
The California Blacksmith Association Presents - The 8th Annual Hammer-In at Roaring Camp Railroads. Watch demonstrators push the boundaries of hot metal, bring ancient techniques to life and share with the community their talent and dedication to the blacksmith craft.
Activities
Gold Panning
Kids Crafts
Live Music
4th of July
This 4th of July, take either the Redwood Forest Steam Train or the Santa Cruz Beach Train. Join us in the Town of Roaring Camp for family-friendly activities and live music.
Activities
Live Music
Kids Club Activities
Chuckwagon BBQ
Moonlight Dinner Party
Treat yourself to an evening of fun and relaxation at Roaring Camp's Moonlight Steam Train Dinner Party. Start with a hearty BBQ dinner followed by a leisurely train ride aboard vintage railway cars.
Forest Train 4 hrs
6:00 pm
Activities
Hearty BBQ Dinner
*Vegetarian Options Available
Campfire
Live Music
Line Dancing
5th Annual Brewgrass Festival
2025 Date TBD
,
1:00pm-8:30pm
Roaring Camp and Legend Theatrical presents the 5th Annual Brewgrass Festival. Enjoy Bluegrass music, brews from local breweries and food from popular local food trucks. Back this year- VIP Brewgrass Tasting Train roundtrip from Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp.
No train scheduled.
Activities
Optional Tasting Train
Live Music
Craft Beer & Cider
Local Food Vendors
Free Kids Activities
Bubble Bonanza
Get ready to step on board the Circus Bubble Train. Zillions of Bubbles will float through the air as you travel down the tracks through the Redwood Forest. Meet the Bubble Ubbles, Mr. Bigz Bubbles and BB Bubbles on the train. Your train ticket also includes a show in the Circus Ring at Bret Harte Hall. Performances by stilters, jugglers, dancers and world renowned bubble magician, Tom Noddy.
Activities
Bubble Magician Tom Noddy
Live Music by Peter Apel
Circus Show
Circus Themed Activities
Bubble Photos
Kids Club Activites
Harvest Faire
Welcome Fall with the Harvest Faire at Roaring Camp! Take the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain. Pick a pumpkin from the town pumpkin patch.
Activities
Pick a Pumpkin
Harvest Themed Kids Crafts
Blacksmith
Gold Panning
More Info
Father’s Day Brew Train
Take a trip from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to Roaring Camp Railroads on the Father's Day Brew Train! Local brewers from Humble Sea will be pouring tastes of some of their favorite beers as you ride the rails from the seas to the trees. Listen to live music on board as we make our way to Roaring Camp. Once you arrive at Roaring Camp join in on the festivities with more live music, gold panning, great bbq lunch and beer available for purchase.
No train scheduled.
Beach Train 4 hrs
11:00 am
Activities
Live Music
Tastings from
Humble Sea Brewing
Chuck Wagon BBQ
Gold Panning
Bounce House
Farmer John Tractors
Doc Holiday's Faro Card Game
Father’s Day BBQ
Salute Dad on Father’s Day by treating him to a ride on the Redwood Forest Steam Train or the Santa Cruz Beach Train and lunch. In addition, enjoy live music at the BBQ where Humble Sea will be pouring the best local brew for sale.
No train scheduled.
Activities
Humble Sea Brewing
Santa Cruz Scrumpy Cider
Chuckwagon BBQ
Live Music
Gold Panning
Bounce House
Farmer John Tractors
Model Train Displays
Redwood Mountain Faire
The annual Redwood Mountain Faire brings together a wide range of music styles on two stages. The Faire benefits a wide range of nonprofit and service organizations and is organized by the Valley Women's Club of the San Lorenzo Valley.
No train scheduled.
Activities
Beach Train from the Boardwalk
Live Music
Fine Arts & Crafts
Kids Activities
Local Brews & Wines
Mother’s Day Brunch
Treat Mom to something memorable on her special day with a beautiful Mother’s Day train ride through the towering redwoods. Hallcrest Vineyards will be pouring their local wines for purchase.
Activities
Brunch at Bret Harte Hall
Live Music from Rory Lynch
Hallcrest Vineyards
Craft Table
New this year - Tintype family portraits by the Midnight Oil Collective
Roaring Camp BBQ Cook-Off
Nationally recognized Pit-Masters and local Grill Gurus alike battle it out for cash prizes, trophies and the honor of having their secret recipes voted Best BBQ at the Roaring Camp Cook-Off. Come hungry and vote for your favorite to win the People's Choice award. Want more than a taste? BBQ vendors will be ready to serve full plates of a variety of BBQ favorites and sides.
Activities
Local Breweries
Live Music
Bounce Houses
Kids Club Activities
Pedal Tractors
Gold Panning
Blacksmith
Marshal
Santa Cruz Starlight Evening Dinner Party
Evening train and dinner excursion from the beach to the redwoods. Upon arrival, a delicious barbecue dinner and live music awaits you.
Beach Train 4 hrs
5:30 pm
Activities
Hearty BBQ Dinner
*Vegetarian Options Available
Live Music
Dancing
Campfire
Labor Day Weekend
This Labor Day Weekend, take either the Redwood Forest Steam Train or the Santa Cruz Beach Train. Join us in the Town of Roaring Camp for family-friendly activities and live music from Steve Bennett.
Activities
Live Music
Gold Panning
Blacksmith
Printing Press
Farmer John Mini Tractors
Chuck Wagon BBQ
Outdoor American BBQ and live music open 12-3PM Friday-Sunday through the summer.
No train scheduled.
Activities
Live Music Schedule
Coming Soon!
Annual Pass
Check out our Annual Pass options as you can save a bundle! All Annual Passes get you unlimited rides on Redwood Forest Steam Train and Santa Cruz Beach Train. If you love our events, Gold and Silver Passes are valid for certain special events and discounts.
No train scheduled.
Activities
No activities for this event.
Redwood Forest Steam Train
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Activities
Through the Redwoods to Bear Mountain & Back!
Santa Cruz Beach Train
Departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Activities
Departing either from the Boardwalk or Roaring Camp and return.
Travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge and through an 1875 tunnel.