The Bronx Botanical Garden and The Holiday Train Show
The Bronx Botanical Garden is one of New York City’s greatest treasures. The 250-acre site was once home to the Lenape, and is now bringing over a million visitors every year to enjoy the beautiful gardens in all seasons, and for the Garden’s annual Holiday Train Show. The park area was established in 1891 through an act of the New York State Legislature, and through the efforts of botanist Nathaniel Lord Britton and his wife Elizabeth, in addition to some of the country’s most influential industrialists: Cornelius Vanderbilt II, Andrew Carnegie, and J. P Morgan. The LuEsther T. Mertz Library and Enid A. Haupt Conservatory were the first of the major structures to be completed on the grounds, opening to the public around 1902.
The Gardens are stunning anytime of year of course, and depending on the season of your visit, the Garden’s website even gives descriptions of what plants are particularly beautiful in each of the four seasons. There is much to see amongst the 50 different gardens and plant collections, but this time of year it is famous for their Holiday Train Show.
Visitors to the Botanical Garden can come to the Train Show from now until January 20 from 10a.m. – 6:00p.m.; if you are over 21, there are evening tickets available. This annual event of 30 years draws crowds from all around the world, wanting to see the magical holiday decorations on the grounds and in the conservatory, but more precisely to see the 25 G-scale model trains and trolleys traveling along the half-mile of track throughout the exhibition. The children in particular are fascinated by the trains of course, but I found the plant-based models of New York City landmarks past and present to be my favorite part of the event. All of the structures are completely made from plant materials of all sorts. There are recreations of almost 200 iconic structures including the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium, Statue of Liberty, the New York Public Library and even buildings long demolished such as the old Pennsylvania Station and the Clark Mansion, to name a few.
For those 21 and older, there are select evenings to come to the Holiday Train Nights shows. Not only can you enjoy the beautifully lit interiors and exterior spaces with their festive lights, but there is live entertainment with various musical artists performing holiday classics, and delicious food and drink options (spiked cider cocktails and mocktails). Manhattan-based vocalist Samantha Louis is one of the featured performers this holiday season, and she and her duo will be singing classics from the Great American Songbook and familiar Christmas tunes such as “Winter Wonderland” “Let is Snow,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” and more. Ayanna the Singer, Bronx born and raised, and Louie Lou Louis, will also be performing in the Café Car on select evenings, so there is no shortage of musical entertainment whilst enjoying a beverage or two.
Whether you visit by day or night, there are plenty of opportunities to grab a photo with one of the Roaming Train Conductors, decked out in their traditional blue suits with matching caps. The last time that I visited was during the evening, and I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the gardens inside and out. With all of the holiday lights sparkling throughout the exhibition, the trains racing past the models of all the famous sites of New York City, I really felt like I was in some other world altogether. There are still plenty of tickets available at the time of this posting, but some of the evenings are now fully booked. The Holiday Train Show is well worth the subway ride up to the Bronx, and you’ll have plenty of memories to take home with you… and perhaps even some gingerbread cookies!