East Troy Electric Railroad’s annual Santa Train departs Dec. 7
Limited tickets are now available for children of all ages who would like to ride in special passenger trolley cars that will follow the East Troy Electric Railroad’s Santa Train on Saturday, Dec. 7, when it makes its annual journey into town.
Presented by the East Troy Electric Railroad in conjunction with the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce and Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Center, the beautifully lit four-car train will travel down the century-old interurban trolley line between Mukwonago and East Troy.
The original East Troy Christmas Parade train, started by the East Troy Jaycees and the railroad in 1972, was an historic reproduction of the Schuster’s Christmas Parade in Milwaukee. The Schuster’s Department store chain sponsored the parade, established in 1928, to kick off the Christmas shopping season. It disappeared in 1955 with the demise of the Milwaukee Electric Lines interurban and streetcar system.
Spectators, who aren’t aboard the train, can catch a glimpse of Santa along Highway ES. The train will stop briefly at the following crossings:
• 4:30 p.m., train departs at The Elegant Farmer;
• 5:15 p.m., Army Lake Road – Army Lake Camp
• 5:30 p.m., St. Peter’s Road;
• 5:50 p.m., Byrnes Street;
• 6:10 p.m., Division Street; and
• 6:30 p.m., Santa arrives on Village Square via East Troy Fire Department truck.
The heated passenger trolley will pick up riders at 4:30 p.m. at The Elegant Farmer and follow the Santa Train to East Troy. Riders will be able to walk to the village square to watch Santa light the community Christmas tree on the East Troy’s historic village square.
The return trip will depart the East Troy depot at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the special ride, which must be purchased in advance, are available at the East Troy Chamber Office, 2096 Church St. (on the Village Square) and the Mukwonago Chamber Office, 801 Main St., Suite 1, for $10 each. For more information, call (262) 642-3770 or (262) 363-7758.
In anticipation of Santa’s arrival, festivities will begin on the East Troy Village Square at 6 p.m. with concessions and a Christmas carol sing-along led by the East Troy Community Band.
Photos of children with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available following the tree lighting inside Ivan’s Backstage at a cost of $5 each, with the proceeds to benefit the East Troy Food Pantry.
The photographs will be taken during the East Troy Holiday Marketplace from 5-8 p.m., featuring more than 20 vendors offering a variety of holiday gift items and entertainment by Cork N Cleavage.
Midnight Magic
Midnight Magic, sponsored by the Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce, also takes place Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. until midnight at sites throughout the community. Under the theme, “It’s a Wonderful Night in Mukwonago” the event offers pictures with Santa, The Enchanted Gingerbread Forest, Alaskan Malamute Dog Sled Pull, marketplace/craft fair, carriage rides, Christmas Parade, Festival of Trees, live nativity scene, holiday entertainment and fireworks.
For more information, visit www.mukwonagochamber.org.
