Tag Archives: Santa Train

Coopersville & Marne Railway announces 2020 season schedule

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By Jim Bogart
Coopersville & Marne Railway

The Coopersville & Marne Railway has announced its passenger train schedule for the 2020 season. Included are the ever popular  EnterTRAINment Excursions, featuring local area musicians, as well as special theme trains throughout the year.

The new season kicks off with the Second Annual “Beat the Train 5K” race on Saturday March 21st . Some of the proceeds for this event are donated to the Western Michigan Society for Industrial Heritage; a non-profit organization that is a handicap accessible car for use on the Coopersville & Marne Railway. Additional information about this event can be found at beatthetraincoop.com.

The Easter Bunny and its cast of wacky musical friends come to Coopersville on March 28th to begin three weekends of Bunny Train entertainment for passengers of all ages. This year’s cast features members of LionHeart Productions from Grant, Michigan.

On Memorial Day, May 25 , the Coopersville & Marne Railway will honor America’s veterans with its “Veteran’s Troop Train.” Veterans ride for free for this special event, as a Thank You for their service to our country.

June begins a full season of activity on the rails. EnterTRAINment Excursions will be featured on two Saturdays and one Wednesday each month from June 6th to September 5th . The Wednesday trains return this year after having been cancelled in 2019 to allow for track maintenance.

The always popular “Great Train Robbery” moves from July to June this year. It will include two trains each on Saturday June 13th and Saturday June 20 th . Featuring bad guys, good guys, dance hall girls and lots of horses you’ll experience train travel as it was in the Old West.

Our friends from LionHeart Productions return in August to present another “Murder Mystery Train.” Come out for an evening train ride on Saturday August 15th and Saturday August 22nd , and match wits with you fellow passengers to determine ‘Who Dunit.’

Our Famous Pumpkin and his friends, Scarecrow and Li’l Crow return each weekend in October. They will entertain passengers with songs and jokes on the annual “Pumpkin Train.”

Then each weekend from Thanksgiving to Christmas the train becomes home to Santa Claus along with his elves and a story telling Princess; for the “Santa Train.”

A complete schedule of Coopersville & Marne Railway activities for 2020 is attached. In addition, some other activities, to be announced later, are still in the planning stages. Those include special events to commemorate the Grand Opening of a new full-service station, in historic downtown Coopersville, as well as the 30 th anniversary of the Coopersville & Marne’s first train on July 4, 1990.

The Coopersville & Marne Railway is West Michigan’s “All Volunteer Vintage Railroad.” It features a leisurely 90-minute ride from Coopersville to Marne and back; allowing passengers to experience rail travel as it was in the 1950s.

The popular Santa Train will run Nov. 28 – Dec. 20. (Supplied)

2020 SCHEDULE

EnterTRAINment Excursions
Saturdays at 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
June 6 & 27
July 11 & 18
August 15 & 22
September 5
Wednesdays at 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
June 17
July 15
August 12

Beat the Train 5K Race
Saturday March 21 (9 a.m.)

Bunny Train
Saturday March 28 (11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.)
Sunday March 29 (1 p.m.)
Saturday April 4 (11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.)
Sunday April 5 (1 pm & 3 p.m.)
Saturday April 11 (11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., & 3:30 p.m.)

Veterans’ Troop Train
Monday May 25 (11 a.m.)

Great Train Robbery
Saturday June 13th (10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.)
Saturday June 20th (10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.)

Coopersville Car Show Shuttle
Saturday August 8th (10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

Murder Mystery Train
Saturday August 15 (6:30 p.m.)
Saturday August 22 (6:30 p.m.)

Famous Pumpkin Train
Saturdays at 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
October 3, 10, 17 & 31
Saturday at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
October 24
Sundays at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
October 4, 11, 18, & 25

Santa Train
Saturday at 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
November 28
Sundays at 1 & 3 p.m.
November 29, December 6
Saturdays at 10 a.m., noon, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m.
December 5, 12 & 19
Sundays at 11 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.
December 13 & 20

The Weekend Edition: Things to do Dec. 8 – 11

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kentwood-christmas-tree-lightingLight It Up

 

The City of Kentwood will host its annual tree lighting ceremony Friday, Dec. 9, at the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Rd. SE.

 

Kicking of the event will be the annual Holiday Light Parade featuring local business and organizations including the Kentwood Police and Fire departments. The parade will start at the Kentwood Baptist Church, 2875 52nd St. SE and travel north on Breton for about a quarter of a mile, ending at Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton SE.

 

Also taking place from 5 – 9 p.m. will be the Elves Express Gift Shop at the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch. Families will be able to shop for grandmas, grandpas, sisters, brothers, moms, dads, aunts, uncles, friends, pets, and anyone else on their list. Also WKTV will be at the library to record Christmas greetings.

 

For more information about any of these events, visit www.yourkprd.org.

 

Candy CaneThe Great Candy Cane Hunt

 

It’s Wyoming’s Great Candy Cane Hunt Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop SW.

 

Santa Claus will lead children through a scavenger hunt of hidden candy canes scattered in the Veterans Memorial Garden. Once the children have found all the sweet treats, they will head over to the Wyoming Senior Center for lunch and activities such as a holiday craft, work on a coloring book or to play games. Santa also will be visiting with all the children, collecting holiday wish lists.

 

The cost for the Great Candy Hunt is $4 for children ages 3-14 years old and $6 for non-residents. Additional family members of all ages may attend the event and have lunch for an additional $2 each. Pre-registration is required. Call 616-530-3164 or register at www.wyomingmi.gov/PRRegistration by Thursday, Dec. 8.

 

Soldier NutcrackerThe Nutcracker

 

The Grand Rapids Ballet kicks off its traditional holiday presentation of “The Nutcracker” on Friday, Dec. 9, with performances this weekend and next at DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW.

 

Re-imagined by “Polar Express” author Chris Van Allsburg a couple of years ago, the production follows the story of Clare and her doll as they battle the Mice King and his army and travel to the Land of Sweets and meet its ruler the Sugar Plum Fairy. The production features choreography by Val Caniparoli and set design by Eugene Lee.

 

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $20. For more information, visit grballet.com or call 454-4771, ext. 10.

 

grinch_setFlick’s Festival Favorites

 

Everybody has some favorite holiday films and this weekend the Flick’S Family Film Festival celebrates its favorites by featuring two popular films, the 2000 “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Polar Express.”

 

Showings will be at area Celebration! Cinemas including South Celebration! Cinema. Showtimes do vary, so make sure to check local listings. Tickets are free for children 12 and under and $5 for anyone else.

 

For more information, visit the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/FlicksFamilyFilmFestival/.

 

santa-train-thumbThe Santa Train

 

Break away for the day and ride the Santa Train. Each child will be personally escorted to meet with the big guy by his elves and receive a present. A story-telling princess will read Christmas-themed books to the children as the Coopersville & Marne Railway train speeds along the tracks.

 

The Coopersville & Marne Railway is located at 311 Danforth St., Coopersville. Departure times available for this weekend are 10 a.m., noon, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Other departure dates are Dec. 17, 18 and 24. Tickets are $19/adults, $18/seniors (60 and older), $17, children 2 – 12, and free, children two and under.

 

For more information, visit coopersvilleandmarne.org.

 

youth-chorusGrand Rapids Symphony Youth Choruses’ Holiday Concert

 

Made up of students from throughout the Greater Grand Rapids area, including Wyoming and Kentwood, the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Choruses bring some holiday favorites and traditional classics to life in the organization’s annual holiday performance.

 

The performance is Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Basilica of St. Adalbert, 654 Davis NW. Performances are at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door and $5 for students.

All abooooooard the Santa Train!

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, ,

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Photo courtesy of Coopersville & Marne Railway

 The fun begins Saturday, Nov. 26

Ride with the FUN GUY! Everyone loves Santa and Santa loves children. Each of the vintage passenger cars has a special seat reserved just for the Big Guy and his friends. 

Santa’s 230-seat train is ready! The train cars, which date from 1919-1932, are all decorated for Christmas. Santa has a special seat in each train car. The festive train rolls through the snow-covered farms, fields and across the bridges and roadways that are along the 7-mile route. Costumed Elves will escort each child for their time to sit with the Jolly Fellow. All kids get a nice gift from Santa’s Big Bag — even the shy ones!

The Story-telling Princess will read children’s Christmas-themed books when Santa is in another train car. The uniformed Conductor and Trainman will punch every ticket! Christmas music plays throughout the 90-minute ride. The railcars are heated and each has a restroom.

Bring the whole family. Special seating arrangements will be made for groups of six to sixty. All large groups sit together. Full fare is $19, Senior fare for 60+ is $18, Children 2-12 are $17. Children under two years old get a free ticket.

The train runs even on snow days. Snow or no, we go!

santa-train-copy
Photo courtesy of Coopersville & Marne Railway

Tickets

  • Adults $19.00,
  • Senior (60+) $18.00,
  • Children (2-12) $17.00,
  • Under two years old FREE

Reservations are highly recommended. Online reservations can be made here. Or call 616.997.7000, Ext. 3 on Monday through Friday from 10:30 am until 5 pm. Some tickets will be available at the station on the days of departures.

Here are the dates and times:

  • Saturday, Nov. 26th at 11 am and 1:30 pm
  • Sundays, Nov. 27th and December 4th, 11th and18th at 1 pm and 3 pm’
  • Saturdays, Dec. 3rd, 10th & 17th at 10 am, 12 pm, 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm
  • Saturday, Dec. 24 at 10am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm

For more info, go here.

 

Santa Train Returns to Coopersville & Marne Railway for 2014 Season

Local Business, Recreation, ,

Coopersville TrainThe historic, Coopersville & Marne Railway is continuing its 25th year of providing family-friendly fun with the annual running of The Santa Train. Uniformed Conductors and Trainmen will assist you during your ninety-minute journey. The clickity-clack of the iron wheels and the sound of the locomotive horn at each road crossing will add to the special feeling. A blanket of snow in the passing woods and farmer’s fields completes the experience. Christmas carols are sung along the way.

SANTA!
SANTA!

 

The jolly old elf has a special seat in each of the decorated, vintage train cars. Some cars are almost 100 years old. Santa’s Elves will escort the little ones to sit with Santa. All children, even the shy ones, will get a special gift right from Santa’s big red bag. To put a figurative bow on this Christmas “enterTRAINment” package, the Story Telling Princess will read “The Polar Express”, which was written by Grand Rapids native, Chris Van Allsburg.

 

The 250 seat, heated train leaves the station in historic, downtown Coopersville every Saturday and Sunday from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Each passenger car has a restroom. Your light snacks and cameras may be taken aboard. Snow or no, we go!

 

Times for the departures are: Saturday, November 29 at 11 am & 1:30 pm. On all other Saturdays, the departure times are 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. All Sunday departures are at 1 pm and 3 pm. Saturday dates are Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, & 20. Sunday dates are Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 & 21.

Santa Train Elf

 

Ticket prices are: Adults, $15.50, Seniors (60+), $14. 50 and Children (2-12), $13.50, Children under 2 years old are free. Advance tickets: 616-997-7000, Ext. 3 or www.MItrain.net. Some tickets may be available at the train station on the days of departures. But, the train does sell out on occasion, so reservations are recommended. The Conductor begins the boarding procedures at twenty minutes prior to departure times.