What if you could explore a winter wonderland without having to walk out in the cold? You can do exactly that at Christmas Winter Wonderland in Fort Smith. This place certainly lives up to its name: it brings Christmas to life, it takes winter indoors, and it’s a wonderland the whole family can enjoy. There’s a bit of a cover charge, but this place is so worth it. You'll pay $15 for kids, which includes a ride on the holiday train, free cookies and hot chocolate, a picture with Santa, and story time with Mrs. Claus. The price for adults is only $5.
You’ll find Christmas Winter Wonderland at 7300 Wells Lake Road in Fort Smith. Directions are here.
With over 20,000 square feet and more than 30 displays, Christmas Winter Wonderland is sure to put you in the holiday spirit.
Whether you've got a kid in tow or you want to find the wonder you knew when you were a kid, Christmas Winter Wonderland is the perfect place to find your holiday spirit.
If you’re anything like the rest of us, every year as the holidays start approaching, traditional Christmas events start filling up our calendars! Perhaps this year you’re searching for a new fun holiday excursion. If so, we’ve got you covered. In between checking out all of the Christmas light shows and holiday displays, consider taking a ride aboard the Holiday Express train in Arkansas, a fun holiday-themed train excursion that the whole family will enjoy. The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad train offers one of the best Christmas train rides in the state, and you won't want to let this holiday season pass by without climbing aboard this whimsical attraction. This Christmas train ride in Arkansas will take your holiday plans to the next level.
The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad has several holiday trains running as the Christmas season starts to approach. During the year, the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad schedule offers round-trip scenic tours through the Ozark Boston Mountains, which are a fantastic way to experience Arkansas' historic train tunnels and trestles. But the holidays offer something a little extra special and perfect for the whole family.
During the Christmas season, the railroad employs elves to host their special holiday trains, which are called the A&M Holiday Express trains. You'll also hear them referred to as the railroad's pajama trains, but feel free to put on the festive attire you love the most! Jammies and costumes or not, Santa and his elves work hard to make your holiday train experience as magical as possible.
Holiday Express trains depart every two hours. Double-check the A&M Railroad website for this year's schedule. There are typically multiple ride times to choose from that depart from either Van Buren or Springdale, but keep an eye out! Extra routes are sometimes added. These special Christmas train rides often include a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus as well, plus hot chocolate (my favorite, yum!), Christmas carols, and oodles of cheerful surprises.
Double-check the A&M website for this year's schedule. There are typically multiple ride times to choose from that depart from either Van Buren or Springdale, but keep an eye out! Extra routes are sometimes added. The kiddos can write their letters to Santa while they're here, in plenty of time for Christmas deliveries!
Caucasian mother and daughter mailing letter to Santa
When you first arrive, the depot will be all decked out for the season as well. You'll immediately feel in the holiday spirit. You never know who will show up. You might even see Frosty or even the pesky Grinch sneaking around. Hop on the Holiday Express train ride in Arkansas, and you're sure to walk away with some fantastic Christmas memories! This festive Arkansas Christmas train ride is truly a one-of-a-kind event you won't want to miss. In fact, it might even become a new family tradition! It's on my Christmas list this year!
Address: 306 E Emma Ave, Springdale, AR 72764
To book your tickets for this sweet and nostalgic family Christmas train ride in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad website. Are you planning on riding the Holiday Express this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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For more fun in Arkansas this winter, take a drive to one of these scenic destinations that are way out in the boonies...but worth the drive. Or, curl up with a good book in front of a roaring fireplace at this charming cabin in the trees!
Each winter season, the Historic Downtown Square in Fayetteville is lit up for the holidays for Lights of the Ozarks. As a kid, seeing Christmas lights was one of my favorite things to do around the holiday season. I can still remember how much joy it brought and even as an adult, I experience the same feelings. This enlightening experience is pure magic, and I love that the enchantments last for more than one night. In my opinion, Christmas lights in Arkansas don’t get any better than this! Let’s take a dazzling walk around Fayetteville Square to see the twinkling beauty in this sparkling Arkansas Christmas town.
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Every year, Fayetteville Arkansas is turned into a spectacular holiday extravaganza. No Hallmark movie magic was used here! The Downtown Square is illuminated with over 500,000 twinkling lights. Workers from the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation clock in about 3,300+ hours to achieve this jaw-dropping light display.
The festive scenes and dazzling trees will bring back a sense of wonder to folks of all ages. Walk under the large umbrellas of light while zigzagging through every little lit-up path along the square. One of the most entrancing parts of this experience is how the lights are layered between the sidewalk and buildings with small walkways between the scenes.
The lighting ceremony is much more than a simple flip of the switch. Opening night (Friday, Nov. 22, 2024), kicks off with a festive parade filled with floats sponsored by local groups and businesses. In addition to the parade, Santa will be making a special appearance as well! So, be prepared to snap Christmas pics with him and the little ones. He will be visiting a couple of other times before the end of the year, so don't fret if you can't attend opening night.
The lights are pure magical bliss but they're not the only reason to visit the square. As you admire the thousands of twinkling lights, be sure to grab a steamy cup of hot chocolate and fair-inspired food for your trek. For a more romantic route, there might be carriage rides around the square, which would be an awesome date night adventure. Families can take advantage of all the other fun activities around Fayetteville Square as well!
Even if you can't attend the opening ceremonies, a stroll around the square is a time-honored tradition for Arkansans. The dazzling illuminations will be on until January 1st, 2025. Since the lights will be on for a solid season, it'll be easy to plan for a trip or two before the new year. If you ask me, visiting Fayetteville at Christmas could easily become your new family tradition. For more information about the festivities happening around the square, visit Experience Fayetteville's website.
Take a look at the YouTube video by KCVids816 showing all the dazzling displays at Lights of the Ozarks in Fayetteville.
Will you be making plans to visit the Historic Downtown Square in Fayetteville to see the Christmas lights in Arkansas this year? What's your favorite holiday tradition in Arkansas? Share your thoughts with us! We would love to see your stunning photos of the square (or any of the state's outdoor light displays) on our OnlyInYourState Facebook page. You should join the community to stay on top of all the upcoming holiday events in Arkansas.
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Here are some of my all-time favorite drive-thru light displays to tour during this festive season. Or if you’re searching for more fun while you’re in town, check out these attractions in Fayetteville that will be a blast during the winter months.
