“Rail Fair” Train Extravaganza at Ardenwood Historic Farm (May 23-25)

Courtesy of Bruce MacGregor Photography

Come to Rail Fair at Ardenwood Historic Farm on Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-25, 2026.

Rail Fair is our annual celebration of Bay Area railroad history, and the one time a year we take over Ardenwood to turn it into a train extravaganza! Our museum becomes a true train museum, with displays of historic railroad equipment, model trains, other transit displays, live bluegrass music, and of course, train rides!

Train enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy train rides, a variety of model and live steam trains, historic railroad equipment displays, live music, and more.

A major attraction is the display of delicate and historic railroad cars in our collection. Typically, these artifacts are kept in storage for preservation as they await their turn for restoration. We will pull out interesting and key pieces to tell their story, with docents and signage explaining their significance.

All attractions are included in admission.

Rail Fair is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Railroad Museum at Ardenwood, operated by the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources.