EnterTRAINment for the holidays

The venue’s Christmas attraction starts on Nov. 15.

Contact this contributing writer at gmwriteon@aol.com.


How to go

What: Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction

Where: 7379 Squire Court, West Chester

Hours: Runs daily, Saturday, Nov. 15, through Jan. 4. Operating hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. With extended hours for the holidays, EnterTRAINment Junction will remain open until 9 p.m. on Dec. 13-Dec. 23 and Dec. 26-Dec. 30. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day and closes at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. (Santa goes on vacation after Christmas.)

Cost: Pricing starts at $9.95. Free parking.

More info: Go online to www.EnterTRAINmentJunction.com or call (513) 898-8000.

The area’s massive train-themed attraction for families is gearing up for its most popular time of the year with Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction. The attraction will be open for the holidays, beginning Saturday, Nov. 15, through Jan. 4.

“It’s incredible and one of the most popular Christmas venues around. For some reason, trains and the holidays, specifically Christmastime, seem to have a very long-term connection between the two,” said Bill Mefford, spokesman for EnterTRAINment Junction.

The event will feature three holiday train displays at the attraction’s Expo Center, which are free and open to the public.

Located just off of Main Street, the three massive train layouts include a Lionel train display that was originally exhibited at the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis. There is also an HO-scale train display featuring the ever-popular Dept. 56 buildings and villages. A third train display (also G-scale) is set against a winter wonderland backdrop that was created by members of the Greater Cincinnati Garden Railway Society.

“Guests will experience 80,000 square feet of holiday fun, all under one roof, in a climate-controlled environment,” Mefford said.

As part Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction’s seven-week run, visitors will also find a holiday-themed Main Street area, a 1930s cityscape trimmed in festive lights and decorations. Main Street has a sidewalk cafe, several party rooms and a toy shop, Junction Hobbies & Toys.

Junction Hobbies & Toys stocks selection of classic and nostalgic toys, including the area’s largest collection of Thomas the Train merchandise, G-Scale and HO trains and accessories, doll houses and miniatures and more.

With the “Journey to the North Pole” walk-through attraction, guests will enjoy snowy scenes with snowfall on the way to the North Pole and Santa’s Village. The village features a post office, a sleigh house, a reindeer barn and an elves’ workshop. Visitors will encounter Mrs. Claus in her kitchen and receive a fresh-baked cookie.

EnterTRAINment Junction’s celebrated attractions are also open, including a 1,000 foot replica of the historic Coney Island Amusement Park, a kids’ play area, the “weird and wacky” A-Maze-N FunHouse as well as the educational American Railroading Museum and more.

This is the seventh year for the holiday attraction, which attracts more than 25,000 visitors each year, the venue says.

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