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Chicago Botanic Garden

Train on trestle

Wonderland Express
November 28, 2008 – January 4, 2009

Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily
Closed at 3 p.m. December 4 and 24
Closed all day December 25

Become a member now and save on every Wonderland ticket you purchase. Members park free year-round!

Free Tuesdays through December 23 (timed ticket needed)

  Member Nonmember
Adults $8 $10
Children (3–12) $6 $8
Seniors (62+) $6 $8
Children (2 and under) Free Free

Wonderland Express member and nonmember tickets are on sale now. Wonderland Express special event tickets, including Christmas Supper with Santa and the Hanukkah Dinner, are also available.

Take a magical trip to a winter wonderland of twinkling lights and holiday beauty at the Chicago Botanic Garden when we kick off the holiday season! Outside, 750,000 white lights sparkle and welcome you and your family to the Garden's wonderland. Inside the Regenstein Center, a 10,000-square-foot exhibition of miniature trains winds over bridges, under trestles, past waterfalls and through 80 mini-replicas of Chicago's favorite landmarks. New landmarks for 2008 include K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Synagogue, the Newberry Library, and the Chicago Botanic Garden's Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. Paul Busse, designer of the Model Railroad Garden, created this amazing exhibition exclusively for the Garden's holiday celebration.

Walk past an English country train platform, beautifully decorated for the season. Come with friends and family to the special holiday events listed here and visit all season for fresh meals in the Garden Café (click here for Café hours).

Special events include "Winter Wonders" Family Drop-in Activities, plus Christmas Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Supper with Santa, and a Hanukkah Dinner and Concert.

As always, the Reindog Parade will be a howling good time for everyone! This year the event will be on Saturday, December 6, from 11 a.m. to
2 p.m.

Note: Wonderland Express will be closed on December 25, and will close at 3 p.m. on December 4 and December 24. The last admission into the exhibition on these days will be at 2:45 p.m.

Take Metra to Wonderland Express

Take Metra’s Union Pacific North Line to the Glencoe station and enjoy our holiday trolley to the Garden every weekend during Wonderland Express, and every day from December 26 to January 4. Round trip trolley tickets are $2.

NOW AVAILABLE for Wonderland Express

PHOTO: Wonderland Express Souvenir BookThe wonder and magic of the Wonderland Express exhibition is highlighted in this unique and beautiful book. Filled with Chicago history and architecture, it's a behind-the-scenes peek into the studio of the creator of Wonderland Express, Paul Busse. With colorful photos of trains and treasured landmarks, this elegantly bound, cloth-covered book captures the imagination of children and adults alike.

For Garden Shop hours, click here.

For Garden Café hours, click here.