You'll never wait long for a train in the world of the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden. 

There are more than two dozen model trains and trolleys making their way past nearly 200 miniature landmarks, all made out of natural materials like leaves, seeds, twigs, bark and acorns. 

What You Need To Know

  • The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show is back for its 30th year

  • It is open to the public this year after only being open to members last year due to COVID-19

  • There are 190 replicas of NYC landmarks in the installation, all made from natural materials like twigs, bark and acorns
  • More than 25 model trains and trolleys run along nearly a half-mile of track

It's the 30th year for the show and it’s back in full force. It open to the public once again after only being available to members last year because of the pandemic. 

"Last year, we had some capacity restrictions and so we are just thrilled to be open and welcoming back the public for this beloved holiday tradition,” said Jennifer Bernstein, president and CEO at the botanical garden in the Bronx. 

To mark the 30-year milestone, a new replica of the garden's landmark LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building has been added. It took an artist almost 1,000 hours to create using bark, mahogany and cinnamon pods and black walnuts. 

Once again, Kentucky-based Applied Imagination has put the show together, founded by Paul Busse and now owned and operated by his daughter Laura Busse Dolan.

"I remember watching this when I was a little girl growing up and even back in the early days I thought it was so huge and magical, and to see where it has grown is a really special thing for our whole family,” said Busse Dolan.

Busse Dolan said it was great to really go to town on the show once again. There are 190 replicas in all: skyscrapers, bridges, Central Park, along nearly a half-mile of track. 

"It's wonderful to just be back in full swing and really just reimagining the whole entire display to make it a new experience like nobody's ever seen before,” said Busse Dolan. 

For tickets and Covid Protocol Information head to: https://www.nybg.org/