Pullman Railroad Days

Schedule

1. Saturday, July 25, 2026 — Railroad Days: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Historic Pullman Exhibit Hall / Pullman National Historical Park.
2. Sunday, July 26, 2026 — Railroad Days: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; includes Geoffrey Baer 'Reflections on Riding the Rails' presentation at 3 p.m. at Greenstone Church.

What to expect

Railroad Days returns July 25-26, 2026 at Pullman National Historical Park with a sharper theme: 100 Years of Electrified Rail & Innovation in Chicago. The event mixes free STEAM activities, miniature train rides and exhibits, modern rail/transit demos, pop-ups, live music through Goodman Theatre's 100 Acts of Free Theater, and ticketed historic railcar and walking tours. The local read: this is not just for train kids; it is one of the best ways to understand Pullman's industrial, labor, design, and national-park story in one weekend.

Tickets

Free activities are included, but timed historic railcar tours are ticketed. Friends of Pullman lists Early Bird $15 through June 30, Advance $20 July 1-24, and Day-Of $25 during Railroad Days. Children under 12 are free for the railcar tour but still need a child ticket added with a ticketed adult. NPS also marks the special event as 'fees apply.'

Transit

Metra Electric to Pullman is the easy move — the station drops you steps from the festival footprint. CTA: Red Line to 95th, then 111 Pullman bus east. Driving is fine — Pullman has free street parking and surface lots (it's a National Park, designed for visitors).

Bag policy

No formal bag check — open national park grounds.

Family-friendly

Outstanding for kids. The locomotive simulator, historic railcars, and antique car show are all kid-magnets. Pullman is a planned 19th-century company-town with wide flat streets — one of the best stroller environments in the city. National Park bathrooms (clean, indoor, with changing tables) at the visitor center. Pullman is a destination for families specifically because it's so well-preserved.

Local tips

1. Get to the visitor center at 11 a.m. for the orientation film — Pullman's history (the strike, George Pullman, the Black porters' organizing) is half the experience.
2. The Hotel Florence tour fills slots fast — sign up at the visitor center first thing.
3. Pullman's residential streets are still standing 19th-century rowhouses; walk a few blocks south of the fest footprint to see them.
4. Pair with a stop at the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum (entry ~$10) — most attendees miss it.
5. Bring sun protection — Pullman's wide grid is exposed.
6. Food at the fest is solid but limited — Old Fashioned Donuts on 111th is worth a detour for a Pullman institution.
7. If you have train-obsessed kids, the locomotive driving slot is a 30-minute hold — stake it out early.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pullman Railroad Days free?

Some activities are free, but the historic railcar tours are ticketed. Treat this as a mixed free/ticketed event rather than a fully free festival.

How much are railcar tour tickets?

Friends of Pullman lists Early Bird $15, Advance $20, and Day-Of $25. Children under 12 are free but need a child ticket with a ticketed adult.

What are the hours?

Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

What is the 2026 theme?

100 Years of Electrified Rail & Innovation in Chicago.