LIVE THE MAGIC OF Christmas aboard The Great Raleigh Trolley

The 2023 Christmas Season:

THE GREAT RALEIGH TROLLEY HOLIDAY TOURs

Christmas is right around the corner and before long it it will be time for Santa’s ride on The Great Raleigh Trolley!

Please read the tour information below carefully before booking your group.

With so much excitement surrounding the Great Raleigh Trolley’s most popular attraction - please read this carefully.

TICKET RELEASE

ABC11 called The Great Raleigh Trolley Christmas Tours the hottest ticket in town, and now is your chance to see why! Tickets to all Holiday tours will be released privately to members of the Great Raleigh Trolley Newsletter before going on sale to the public. Watch your inbox for your private link to join the fun!

In an effort to help large groups reserve seats on the trolley together, tickets for newsletter subscribers will be released according to the following schedule:

Ticket Release Schedule:

July 22 - July 31: The Christmas in July Pre-Sale
October 23: Tickets on sale for groups of 12+
October 30: Tickets on sale for groups of 6+
November 1: All tickets on sale for newsletter subscribers
November 6: All tickets on sale to the public

In previous years, these tours have sold out within the first 24 hours. Signing up for the Newsletter in advance is free and will help to ensure you are able to claim your seats before tickets go on sale the public at large.

SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLetter
for access to the private release:

Individual TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!

FRIENDS OF SANTA TOY DRIVE

TOUR TYPES

To meet your group or family needs - SIX OPTIONS are available, all equally full of Christmas cheer…

THE SANTA EXPRESS - Kids and parents hop aboard the Great Raleigh Trolley for their chance to enjoy a ride through Downtown and story time with the guest of honor himself...SANTA. The Big Guy in Red will visit with each kid personally to review their wish list and pose for pictures. Surprises, refreshments, holiday music, and more await those riding The Santa Express. Our professional PHOTOGRAPHER will be on hand to help capture the moment for you with complimentary photoshoots. Each experience lasts approximately 60 minutes, includes a trolley ride with Santa, and plenty of time for pictures. This tour is best for toddlers to young grade-schoolers. Infants under 2 in lap no charge.

MUST SEE RALEIGH HOLIDAY EDITION - During the holidays, the State Capitol and Downtown Raleigh come alive with Christmas magic. This family-friendly tour lasts approximately 60 minutes with visits to Downtown’s most popular holiday sights including Historic Oakwood, the North Carolina Executive Mansion, the giant City of Raleigh Christmas tree, and much much more. Infants under 2 in lap no charge.

COCOA & CAROLING TOUR - Step aboard our merry trolley and get ready to sing your heart out as you embark on our Cocoa & Caroling tour! With each ticket, we invite you to enjoy a festive trolley ride filled with your favorite Christmas Carols, delicious cups of hot cocoa, and a truly unforgettable sing-along adventure with family and friends. For an extra dose of merriment- feel free to don your coziest Christmas Morning pajamas! Infants under 2 in lap no charge.

CHRISTMAS SPIRITS GHOST TOUR - Hear Raleigh’s tales of the ghosts of Christmas past and present aboard The Great Raleigh Trolley. Try something a little unexpected by taking a 90-minute ride on Raleigh’s only haunted holiday tour led by our paranormal experts & storytellers. Be sure to bring a little extra Christmas cheer to warm your bones as we explore the Capital city’s less-than-merry memories. Only recommended for ages 13 and above.

OAKS & JOKES HOLIDAY BAR CRUISE - Combine the sparkle of Downtown Raleigh during the holidays with a jingle bell rockin’ good time at some of Raleigh’s most popular watering holes. This spirited party tour is 90 minutes in length, for adults 21+ only, and includes your first drink at Tap Yard. Guests are welcome to bring their own adult beverages for the road and can purchase to-go beverages at Tap Yard for the ride. Dress for the occasion as this is a Christmas party on wheels. 21+ Only.

PRIVATE FAMILY HOLIDAY TROLLEY RIDE - Make holiday memories to last a lifetime with a Private Family Holiday Trolley Ride this Christmas! This 60-minute rental begins at the Great Raleigh Trolley Headquarters at Tap Yard in downtown Raleigh. Alternatively, we can do a custom or private residence pick-up for an additional travel fee. Please note, private Family Holiday Trolley Rentals are for trolley transportation only, and do not include a tour guide or visits with Santa. $500 hour-long rental plus gratuity and optional pickup fee. Click here to make your private reservation.

TOUR DETAILS

• All Holiday Tours begin and end at the Great Raleigh Trolley Headquarters at Tap Yard Raleigh - 1610 Automotive Way (next to Pine State Coffee)

• The Great Raleigh Trolley Tours will meet INSIDE Tap Yard Raleigh this year.

• Please arrive at Tap Yard at least fifteen (15) minutes before the Tour’s scheduled departure to CHECK-IN with the Great Raleigh Trolley representative. 

• Free parking is available at Tap Yard Raleigh, as well as the various parking lots and street parking along Automotive Way.

• Enjoy refreshments at Tap Yard before or after your tour. Warm and clean restrooms will be available on-site to all ticket holders.

• All Holiday Tours, with the exception of the Santa Express, allow for guests to bring beer or wine on board the Trolley. To-go beverages will be available for purchase on-site. Please enjoy responsibly.

• All ticket-holders are required to sign the Great Raleigh Trolley “Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk” form. The waiver can be signed electronically or at the time of CHECK-IN.

REFUND POLICY

Holiday Tour tickets are rain or shine and non-refundable. In the unlikely event a tour is canceled by the Great Raleigh Trolley, a full refund will be provided. Non-attendance and or non-participation does not entitle a patron to a refund. All sales are final. Holiday displays viewed along the tour route are not owned or controlled by the Great Raleigh Trolley. The Great Raleigh Trolley cannot guarantee the visibility of specific attractions on the tour. The route, stops, and tour lengths are subject to change without notice.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Tickets are available online only. There are no printed tickets; the check-in process will be done electronically.
   

• Tickets may be transferred to another individual. Transfer and reschedule requests may be subject to a $5 processing fee. Because of demand, transferring tickets to another tour date or time may not be possible.
   

• Seat Belts - the Great Raleigh Trolley is not equipped with seat belts.
   

• Food is welcome at the Great Raleigh Trolley Headquarters at Tap Yard, but prohibited on the trolley itself.
   

• Accessibility - the Great Raleigh Trolley is not handicap accessible. Boarding and departing the Great Raleigh Trolley requires patrons to go up and down narrow stairs.
   

• Weather - in the case of severe weather, including but not limited to heavy rain, high winds, lightning, ice, snow, and or extreme cold, Holiday Tours may be canceled with a full refund. Ticketed guests will be notified of weather cancellations by email as quickly as possible. Please be sure to monitor your inbox before your tour.
   

• Parents are responsible for supervising and securing their children while at Tap Yard Raleigh as well as on board the Great Raleigh Trolley. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and may not move about the Trolley while it is in motion.
   

• Beer and wine are permissible on the Great Raleigh Trolley. Glass and liquor are prohibited. Tap Yard has a wide selection of craft beers on tap along with a full menu of wine and non-alcoholic selections.

  
  

• Absolutely no smoking, vaping, or tobacco products on the Great Raleigh Trolley.

   

• We will keep this page as updated as possible. This information may change as we get closer to the holidays.