Many thanks to Trainfest® for offering to provide three lucky Lake Country Family Fun readers a free family 4-pack of tickets to Trainfest® this November.
Trainfest® is coming to the Wisconsin State Fair Park in Milwaukee November 23rd and 24th, 2024. Show hours are: Saturday 9a-5p and Sunday 9a – 5p.
What is Trainfest®?
Trainfest®, a 48+ year old tradition, is America’s largest operating model railroad show and it happens only in Milwaukee. Train hobbyists from around the world and families from the region come to see, run, ride, build and learn more about the hobby of model railroading. It is a kid-friendly event for the entire family. Visitors experience more than 70 remarkable huge operating railroads from Z to G scale, and hobby dealers, artists, historical displays, and hundreds of on-site demonstrations. Trainfest® is sponsored by the Wisconsin Southeastern Division, Inc. of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), a non-profit organization and run entirely by volunteers. Trainfest® is held annually on the second full weekend of November. For more information, visit here.
What is one thing that makes Trainfest so special?
Trainfest is the Only Place in North America to See and run This Many Running Model Railroads!
Trainfest took a break from 2020-2021, but they are back again in 2024!! And they are a must experience for the train lover in your family. In the past, they added more space for the new Trainfest Builders Section sponsored by Walthers featuring kid-only model train layouts! This was your opportunity to have fun, learn a bit, run trains, and admire what others have created. Trainfest: It’s why train enthusiasts from around the globe visit Milwaukee every November.
170,000 square feet of model trains!
Tell me about the Trainfest activities.
Kids: Besides the awesome layouts where kids can actually run the trains on display, kids fun includes Make-n-Take activities; an inflatable obstacle challenge for parents and kids to do together (courtesy of Walthers Trains), a train ride by the Milwaukee Light Engineering Society, LEGO Play Areas, and the new Trainfest Builders area for budding model railroad fans. Plus, kids can signup for free to become a Trainfest Junior Engineer. Each level has a number of activities designed to engage kids while at Trainfest. Pro tip: Bring a collapsible kids stool* to the event. We picked ours up at ALDI in the past, and it helps the little ones see better. *The link is an Amazon affiliate link. By tapping the link and making a purchase, Lake Country Family Fun may make a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you for supporting our small business so we can keep you in the know of family fun!
Due to the popularity of the Make-n-Take, online sign up is encouraged. Slots for those 4-8 and those 9+ are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities include a Faller’s Home Town Model to color for just $2 and a Walthers Two-Story House to build for $6. Plus, when you purchase online, you save $1/kit.
Fans of all ages: This year there are dozens of new complex running model railroads, amazingly detailed train displays, hobby manufacturers, vendors, historical societies, and hundreds of hands-on demonstrations. In total there’s five football fields for train fans.
What’s New This Year?
They’re back! The show is under new management, AND it’s the Baird Center in Milwaukee. Check out these fun facts:
- The Baird Center has been completely renovated and now has over 1 million square feet of space.
The halls Trainfest are using are brand new and opened in May of this year.
The Baird Center will offer the following improvements over State Fair Park:
*Lots of Parking Options
*Improved Access to Public Transportation
*Better Hotel Access for those Staying Overnight
*Improved Restaurant & Entertainment Options for those attending the show
*The Baird Center is a First Class Facility with Plenty of Space for the Show to Expand in the future, while all Being Under One Roof.
The East Troy Railroad Museum will be there! Their new 2024 brochures and calendars will be available — so stop by to get your copies and say “hi” when you do.
Tell me about the special celebrations.
Celebrate-a-Railroad: CB&Q, The Burlington Route
Trainfest proudly honors a railroad every year for its contributions to the making of America. This year, the CB&Q railroad is honored. The Burlington Route Historical Society has been hard at work this year combing their archives for display materials on the CB&Q. While at Trainfest®, don’t miss the spectacular 32-panel historical museum-quality display on the railroad. Everyone gets into the act. Operating railroads run CB&Q engines and stock cars. Manufacturers and hobby shops offer special CB&Q merchandise. Be sure to visit the Trainfest® store for the limited edition Celebrate-a-Railroads cars and collectibles.
Tell me about ticket prices.
The Trainfest organizers encourage you to buy your tickets in advance to avoid the long lines common in past years.
Here is the link to use for tickets: https://www.train-
- All tickets are non refundable. Tickets will only be refunded if the show is canceled by the sponsor.
- Tickets do NOT include parking.
- Tickets will be delivered via email. If you have an issue with your ticket contact tickets@greattrainexpo.com.
- Tickets can be printed or shown on a smart phone for scanning
Adults (16 and up)
One day admission – $19.95 Saturday; $14.95 Sunday
Two day admission – $20 online
Kids (3-16)
One day admission – $9.95 Saturday; $4.95 Sunday
Two day admission – $10 online
Kids (0-2)
FREE!!! (No ticket needed; must be accompanied by an adult)
Giveaway Time: Win a free family 4-pack of tickets to Trainfest!!
Three lucky Lake Country Family Fun readers will receive a family 4-pack of tickets to Trainfest®!
To Enter:
Simply enter your name and valid email address in the form below and comment on this Facebook post with a friend’s name whose kiddo loves trains!! *We will contact the winner via the email submitted.
Only one entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Giveaway starts on November 19, 2024 and ends November 21, 2024 at 11:59 pm (CST).
Thank you to everyone who won and congratulations to our three winners: Carol N., Maggie O., and
See our 2018 winner on Instagram.
Other: Entrants must be 18 years or older at the time of entering the giveaway. Entrants must be located in the U.S. The winner will be selected at random and notified via the email that was submitted. Winner must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be chosen. Only one entry person. Duplicates will be deleted.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Trainfest® for providing the giveaway. See disclosure and privacy policy here. The winner may be congratulated on Facebook (with the official prize notification going through email). For giveaways that are announced or promoted on Facebook, please note that these promotions are in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
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I’am writing this on behave of my Husband and my Son who looking forward to the train show. All the boys talk about is baseball and trains.
Our son loves trains (he just set up our Christmas train last night). He and his sister share November birthdays and have enjoyed trainfest for their birthdays the last couple of years. They would love to go again this year.
All our grandkids love trains-Riding in them, playing with models, watching them. They love to see the models at Maxims in Oconomowoc.
Our grandson loves all things dealing with trains. He loves to just go to the Depot in Deerfield and watch as they go by.
I’m entering for my youngest grandkids who are 8 and 6 and love trains 🚂