Santa Train Returns To Manassas In 2019: How To Get Tickets

MANASSAS, VA — The popular Virginia Railway Express returns to Manassas and other stations on Saturday, Dec. 14. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25 and are known to sell out almost immediately.

Kids and their parents are invited to climb aboard to meet Santa and friends. The ride features Santa's helpers handing out candy canes and coloring books, along with other festivities. It also doubles as an education event to promote rail safety.

Aside from Manassas, participating stations are Woodbridge, Burke Centre, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. The Santa Train stations will also be drop-off sites for Toys for Tots. Riders are encouraged to bring a toy to donate.

Tickets are available by cash or check in person at the Manassas Visitors Center, Fredericksburg Visitors Center, Spotsylvania County Visitors Center, Supervisor John Cook's Office in Burke, and Woodbridge VRE Station or online at vrespecialevents.org. Tickets are $5 in person and $6 online. If buying online, be sure you have a VRE account before ticket sales go live.

Here's the full schedule for Manassas:

VRE has other important details for riders:

• All passengers, regardless of age, must have tickets. Regular VRE tickets WILL NOT be honored for this special event. Tickets WILL NOT be sold at the station the day of the event and must be purchased prior to the event.
• Santa Train Tickets are not refundable or exchangeable.
• Ticket sales are limited to 6 per person for most trains.
• After ticket sales conclude, VRE does not have available tickets.

Patch staffer Emily Leayman contributed to this story.