Fox River Trolley Museum

09/05/2026

The Caboose Train is ready for tomorrow!

A huge THANK YOU to the volunteers who stayed after hours tonight to help get the caboose train all set up and ready for our visitors.

We couldn’t make these special events happen without the volunteers who are willing to put in the extra time behind the scenes. We appreciate you!

Now all that’s left is to climb aboard. We’ll see you tomorrow!

09/03/2026

This Labor Day weekend, visit the Fox River Trolley Museum for a ride, some great food, and a whole lot of fun!

Doggone Beverages will be on-site serving up family friendly drinks and food to keep you fueled for your visit.

This Weekend, we’ll be running our caboose train as part of the weekends operations! It’s a great chance to experience one of our historic pieces of railroad equipment in action.

Come spend your Labor Day with us, grab something tasty from Doggone Beverages, and take a ride through history!

11AM-4:30PM
Fox River Trolley Museum
365 S La Fox St, South Elgin, IL

09/01/2026

This year, Santa is ditching the sleigh and climbing aboard a historic rapid transit car for a scenic holiday ride along the Fox River. And trust us, this is one Christmas tradition that’s going to be hard to derail.

Take a ride through history, soak up the Christmas spirit, and make some merry memories with the whole family. You might even say it’s the most wonderful ride of the year.

Santa’s Trolley Express runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 28 through December 20, departing from Blackhawk Station.

But don’t wait until the North Pole freezes over… Seats are limited!

Get your tickets, pick your seats, and get ready to have a holly jolly good time aboard a real historic Chicago rapid transit car.

It’s going to be tree-mendous.
It’s going to be merry and bright.
And it’s definitely going to be one Christmas ride you won’t want to miss!

Tickets and information:

All Aboard for Holiday Magic at the Fox River Trolley Museum!Celebrate the season with a heartwarming holiday train ride that’s bursting with nostalgia, joy, and festive wonder! Climb aboard our be…

08/31/2026

This Labor Day weekend, come out to the Fox River Trolley Museum for a ride, some great food, and a whole lot of fun!

Doggone Beverages will be on-site serving up delicious drinks and food to keep you fueled for your visit.

And on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, we’ll be running our caboose as part of the day’s operations! It’s a great chance to experience one of our historic pieces of railroad equipment in action.

Come spend your Labor Day with us, grab something tasty from Doggone Beverages, and take a ride through history!

Monday, September 7
Fox River Trolley Museum
365 S La Fox St, South Elgin, IL

We’ll see you at the museum!

08/30/2026

Cars 316 and 304 may be making an appearance on today’s operating schedule!

We’re keeping an eye on the weather, so their operation will depend on conditions throughout the day. If the weather cooperates, you may get the chance to see these two historic cars out and about!

Come visit the museum and see what’s running today!

08/27/2026

The gears are turning and the rails are calling!

The Fox Valley Steampunk Festival is coming to the Fox River Trolley Museum on Saturday, September 12!

Step into a world of Victorian-inspired style, steam-powered imagination, unique vendors, entertainment, and historic trolley cars. Whether you arrive in full steampunk attire or simply want to experience something completely different, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Tickets, event information, vendor details, and everything you need to know can be found here:

https://foxvalleysteampunk.com/

Come explore the museum, experience the festival, and take a journey into a world where history and imagination collide!

Saturday, September 12
Fox River Trolley Museum
365 S La Fox St, South Elgin, IL

08/26/2026

THE GHOST STORY TRAIN IS BACK!

Tickets are ON SALE for the Fox River Trolley Museum’s Ghost Story Train!

Join us this October for a family-friendly evening of spooky stories, eerie encounters, vendors, and a trolley ride you won’t soon forget. It’s the perfect fall outing for families, friends, and anyone who enjoys a little bit of spooky fun.

Saturday, October 10
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 24

Departures at 5:00 PM, 6:15 PM, and 7:30 PM each evening.

Come and check out our vendors and enjoy everything the museum has to offer when you buy a ticket!

Tickets are available now, but don’t wait. Choose your date and time before your preferred departure sells out.

Get your tickets here:
https://foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/ghost-story-train/

Bring the family, grab your tickets, and get ready for a spooky night on the rails!

Ride a spooky trolley down to the haunted forest preserve for an evening full of family friendly frights. Listen to spooky chilling stories around the roaring camp fire while enjoying monstrously g…

08/26/2026

Today, we want to take a moment to recognize someone who means so much to the Fox River Trolley Museum family: Joe Caliendo.

Joe was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and has just returned home from the hospital. Joe was first diagnosed a few years ago and recently underwent surgery to remove a mass from his lung. He will be starting chemotherapy again in September.

For nearly a decade, Joe has been a dedicated volunteer at the museum and has been part of our Restoration Dream Team from the very beginning. He has spent countless hours helping in the barn, working on our equipment, lending a hand wherever he is needed, and most importantly, being a friend to so many of us.

If you know Joe, you know exactly who he is. He’s loud, he’s got a personality that is impossible to miss, and we can usually hear him coming long before we see him. And honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Joe has become a huge part of our museum family, and we love him very much.

Please join all of us at the Fox River Trolley Museum in wishing Joe a strong recovery as he continues this fight. Joe, we’re all behind you. Keep fighting, keep being you, and know that The Fox River Trolley Museum is here for you every step of the way.

08/24/2026

What a weekend!

The Fox River Ragtime Festival was a HUGE success! We had lines of people eager to experience something truly special… Live ragtime music performed right on board a historic train car!

From the music and trolley rides to the food, drinks, and incredible atmosphere, this weekend was one to remember. Seeing so many people come out to enjoy the museum and experience ragtime on the rails was absolutely incredible.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us, our amazing performers, volunteers, vendors, and everyone who helped make this festival possible.

We hope you had as much fun as we did!

08/23/2026

Tomorrow, Sunday, August 23, the Fox River Ragtime Festival rolls on at the Fox River Trolley Museum!

HOOKIES BBQ and Doggone Beverages will be back out serving up delicious pulled pork sandwiches and refreshing beverages. They go together so doggone well, you’ll be… hooked!

Come enjoy live ragtime music, great food, tasty drinks, and a fun day at the museum!

Fox River Ragtime Festival
Sunday, August 23
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Fox River Trolley Museum
365 S. La Fox St.
South Elgin, IL 60177

We’ll see you tomorrow!