Metrolink’s 2025 Holiday Express event series will be rolling through Riverside this Saturday, Dec. 20. The Holiday Express is a specially ticketed experience aboard a festively decorated train set with carolers, beloved holiday characters and special guests. Passengers are also treated to a welcome event at the station with family-friendly activities and entertainment ahead of boarding. The five-county tour kicked off in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 6, and has already included stops in San Bernardino and Irvine. The final tour date will be in Simi Valley on Sunday, Dec. 21.
WHAT: Holiday Express round-trips will depart the Riverside-Downtown Station at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Passengers will enjoy a 75-minute round-trip with onboard visits from classic animated characters, carolers, and holiday VIPs rotating between cars throughout the journey. The welcome celebration ahead of boarding will begin at 8:30 a.m. for the morning train and 12 p.m. for the afternoon train. The event will also feature a toy drive for the Miracles and Dreams Foundation, a Riverside nonprofit organization. This is Metrolink’s second consecutive year operating the Holiday Express in Riverside. Last year’s event also sold out, demonstrating considerable local interest in this unique and memorable event.
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 20, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Metrolink Riverside-Downtown Station, 4066 Vine St., Riverside, CA 92507; parking at the station is free of charge.
WHO: Saturday’s Riverside stop is presented by UCR Health and will draw hundreds of local families for a festive day of holiday fun. At the welcome celebration, more than a dozen event partners will host activity and giveaway booths, including Raising Cane’s, GoCal, the Inland Empire 66ers, AAA, the City of Riverside, Riverside Arts Council, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside Police Department, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Riverside Public Library, Bike MS, Riverside Food Lab, SoCal Railway Museum and IE Commuter, among others.
WHY: Metrolink’s Holiday Express is a unique, family-friendly experience that welcomes thousands of passengers annually. It has quickly become a cherished holiday tradition with affordable pricing and stops conveniently spread out across the five primary counties Metrolink serves (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura).
About Metrolink (metrolinktrains.com)
Metrolink regional passenger rail service offers reliable, safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable transportation throughout an interconnected six-county network. Metrolink has 545.6 total service line miles and 67 stations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and San Diego counties, connecting people, communities, and businesses and serving as an essential link in the region’s mobility landscape. Metrolink also operates the Arrow service, a nine-mile extension of the San Bernardino County Line linking the cities of San Bernardino and Redlands.