Home TwinCitiesFrugalMom.com

Twin Cities Frugal Mom

Living well and centsibly in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area

You are here: Home / Calendar / All Aboard! Train Days Event at Union Depot is Back – June 7 & 8

All Aboard! Train Days Event at Union Depot is Back – June 7 & 8

By

If you have a train lover in the family (or just a curious kid who loves hands-on fun), Train Days at Union Depot in St. Paul is a can’t-miss event—and it’s back this weekend, June 7–8, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day!

Union Depot Train Days 2025

I’ve been to Train Days several times with my own kiddos, and it’s always been a huge hit. 

Union Depot Train Station

What to Expect This Year

Train Days is totally free and packed with fun for all ages. Think giant model train displays that wow even the adults, a marketplace full of train-themed toys and memorabilia, and so many great hands-on activities for kids.

This year, the Kids Activity Zone is even bigger—with:

  • Crafts & coloring stations

  • A bounce house

  • Sidewalk chalk art

  • A DJ dance zone

Bring lots of energy—your kids will be moving non-stop!

union depot orange train

Train Tours & Historic Locomotives

If your family loves getting up close to real trains, you’re in for a treat. Several rail cars will be open for tours, including:

  • Caritas – a restored 1948 sleeping car turned into a lounge with big windows and a modern kitchen.

  • Oliver Hazard Perry – a luxury rail car with bedrooms, a dining room, and a real sense of first-class vintage travel.

  • CPKC KCS 2000 – a powerful diesel-electric locomotive with 4,400 horsepower, recently repainted and on display.

These walk-through tours are fascinating and give kids a chance to see what rail travel used to (and still can!) look like.

Union Depot Exterior

Bonus: Behind-the-Scenes & Historic Tours

You can also take a free behind-the-scenes tour of the Metro Transit Light Rail facility nearby in Lowertown—great for little transit fans.

And for the grown-ups (and curious older kids), CynCity Tours will lead historic tours of Union Depot itself, diving into its rich legacy and beautiful architecture.

Union Depot CynCity Tour Guide

We did this tour one year and it was so interesting!!! DEFINITELY do the tours if you can!

Eats & Shops

Plan to spend some time exploring the Depot’s local businesses, which will all be open during the event. Grab a bite at 1881 Eating House, pick up a train-themed treasure at Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store, and browse books, coffee, and bikes all under one roof.

“Train Days is unlike any other event in the area—it really brings out the inner child in everyone,” says Union Depot’s events manager. And I couldn’t agree more!

Even if you’ve never been, this is one of those iconic Twin Cities weekends that’s perfect for making memories. Whether your kids are obsessed with trains or just love a good bounce house and hands-on fun, there’s something for every age.

Mark your calendars for June 7 & 8—and let me know if you go!

For more details and vendor sneak peeks, visit: uniondepot.org/traindays