Roaring Camp Railroads Calendar of Events - 2013
Rain Forest Weekends
JAN 5 - MARCH 31
Learn about California's own Coastal Redwood Forest. Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains just a few miles from the ocean, the forest flourishes in moderate temperatures and a year-round water supply provided by the Pacific systems and dense fog.
EGGSTRAORDINARY EASTER EGG HUNT
MARCH 30 & 31
DEPARTS FROM AND RETURNS TO THE ROARING CAMP DEPOT IN FELTON
Kiddies hunt for lots of chocolate candy eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny in a redwood forest. This event takes place on our redwood forest steam train. Dont forget to bring a basket!
Model Railroad Exhibit
APRIL 13 & 14
The California Central Coast Model Railroad Club displays its On30 modular railroad at Roaring Camp Railroads April 13 and 14. These avid hobbyists will be exhibiting and operating their On30 modular railroads in Bret Harte Hall, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Saturday and 9:30 am to 2:30 pm Sunday. See narrow-gauge equipment roll through realistic scenes from central California during the early 1900’s. Railroad enthusiasts will recognize the logos of well-known railways operating in the United States from past years. Admission is free.
For more information, visit:
www.ccc-on30.org
32nd Annual Civil War Battles & Encampment
Visit encampments of Union and Confederate soldiers and witness historic battles at one of the longest-running Civil War reenactments in the West.
Redwood Mountain Faire
Music lovers, arts/crafts aficionados, and people of all ages will enjoy this remarkable festival. Coming to Roaring Camp on June 1 & 2, 2013, the Faire promises a wide range of music styles on two stages which will appeal to all ages. With juried fine art and crafts, exciting children’s activities, and excellent food and beverages, including local micro-brews and wines. The Faire benefits a wide range of nonprofit and service organizations. Organized by the Valley Women's Club of the San Lorenzo Valley.
More information about the event can be found here.
50th Anniversary Celebration
JUNE 8 & 9
For 50 years, Roaring Camp's historic steam trains have traveled over trestles through towering redwood groves and up steep, winding grades to the summit of Bear Mountain. Celebrate our Golden Year by reliving all your Roaring Camp memories and get ready for some new ones! Live concerts, living history demonstrations and fun happenings are being planned all summer long. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook to find out more as our anniversary approaches.
Father's Day - Hats Off to Dad
JUNE 16
Salute Dad on Father's Day by treating him to a ride on a steam train and then an old-fashioned Chuck Wagon BBQ platter. Each dad so honored, will receive an engineer's cap, and one dad will be selected per train to go on a cab ride in the locomotive!
Great Train Robberies
Witness shootouts between famed lawmen and notorious outlaws from the 1880’s aboard the Redwood Forest Train to Bear Mountain. See why the West was wild!
Santa Cruz Starlight Evening Train
JUNE 22, JULY 6, AUGUST 10
Wonder at the beauty of a venerable redwood forest lit up at night from Pullman-like coaches and open-air excursion cars of the Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway. Smell the aroma of redwood, pines, tan oaks and madrone trees while traveling under the stars.
Evening trains depart from and return to the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz for a leisurely and melodious two-hour round-trip railway excursion along the San Lorenzo River Gorge and forested Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
Train departs the Boardwalk at 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz at 8 p.m.
Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $29
Children: $23 (ages 2-12)
Advance purchase is recommended - Purchase advance tickets here
4th of July Celebration
Bop on over to Roaring Camp for a Sock Hop and 50’s family 4th of July: Hula Hoop contests, games, live music and an all-American barbecue. Steam Train passengers will see how the west was won at Bear Mountain!
Moonlight Steam Train Dinner Party
Treat yourself to an evening of fun and relaxation at Roaring Camp's Western Moonlight Dinner Train Party. Start with a hearty barbecue steak dinner followed by a leisurely train ride aboard vintage railway cars. The steam train stops atop Bear Mountain to a glowing campfire, hot cider and musical sing-along. Upon returning to Roaring Camp, hot apple pie and a country western band await you. Get into the swing of things by line dancing or two-stepping the night away.
The event runs from 6:00 to 10:30 p.m.
Ticket Pricing:
Adults: $49
Children: $39 (ages 2-12)
Advance reservations are required (831-335-4484) - Purchase advance tickets here
Day Out with Thomas™
Join Thomas The Tank Engine™ on a train ride through the Big Trees. Meet Sir Topham Hatt™ and enjoy a day of Thomas activities.
CLICK HERE to purchase 2013 Day Out with Thomas tickets.
For more information and FAQs CLICK HERE
Summer Gathering of Mountain Men
Relive history by traveling back to the time of Isaac Graham, the mountain man who settled in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1830s. Visit Roaring Camp's summer gathering of wild and wooly mountain men. Wander through the wilderness encampments as the colorful and hardy lifestyles of early trappers are re-created. Watch frontiersmen perfect their skills while you Chow down on a Chuck Wagon Barbecue lunch from noon to 3 p.m.
Steam trains depart Roaring Camp at 11:00 a.m., 12:30, 2:00 & 3:30 p.m.
Beach trains leave for Santa Cruz at 10:15 a.m. & 2:15 p.m. and at 12:15 p.m. from Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp.
Musical Saw Festival
For great music that's a cut above the rest, come to the 31st Annual International Musical Saw Festival at Roaring Camp. The big event happens this Sunday when the world's greatest saw players join other acoustic musicians in a variety of musical performances. The festivities start at 10 a.m. with spontaneous acoustic jams. There's a Saw-Off competition from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and a Chorus of the Saws at 3:00 p.m. You'll hear bluegrass, country, folk, gospel, blues, classical and even show tunes!
Steam trains depart Roaring Camp at 11:00 a.m., 12:30, 2:00 & 3:30 p.m.
Beach trains leave for Santa Cruz at 10:15 a.m. & 2:15 p.m. and at 12:15 p.m. from Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp.
For up to the minute information see the International Saw Players website:
www.sawplayers.org
Santa Cruz Starlight Evening Dinner and Train
AUGUST 31
Evening train and dinner excursion departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk at 5:30 pm and travels along the San Lorenzo River through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to Roaring Camp. Upon arrival, a delicious steak dinner awaits you. After dinner, relax to musical entertainment or dancing. On the return trip to Santa Cruz, the train ride brings the forest to life with dazzling color and light. The evening event is four hours in length, returning to the Boardwalk at 9: 30 pm. Advance reservations recommended.
$49 adults
$39 children (2-12 yrs).
Harvest Fair
Celebrate Harvest Time and Halloween with activities for the entire family. Make and take home a scarecrow! Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch atop Bear Mountain!
Activities include:
Hand Car races, Petting Zoo, Make and Take Scarecrows, Blacksmith demonstrations, Print Shop demonstrations Old fashioned Photos, Farmer John Tractor Rides - (Mini tractors for little ones), Bounce Houses, Gold Panning, Candle making, Old West Medicine Show, and a Free pumpkin w/ child train ticket!
Halloween Train
Ride the Ghost train through a haunted forest as the Legend of Sleepy Hollow is narrated. Costumed actors reenact scenes from the famous tale on lighted stages along the tracks. A haunted house, games and other activities add to the fun. Departs from Roaring Camp in Felton!
Holiday Tree Walk
Get in the holiday spirit by bringing family and friends to ride Roaring Camp’s daytime steam train to Bear Mountain. At the summit, guests may sip hot cider and delight in viewing a tree-lined walk of beautifully decorated holiday trees. Trees are provided by Patchen California Christmas Tree Farm, Los Gatos.
To add to the festive spirit and bring hope to families in need, visitors may bring a new and unwrapped toy to Roaring Camp’s depot to benefit Santa Cruz County’s Toys for Tots campaign. Toys collected will be distributed through participating agencies to children who otherwise would have less. For each donated toy, Roaring Camp will deduct $2 per train ticket, whether purchased online or in person. Guests are requested to avoid donating toys of aggression or unpacked stuffed animals.
Holiday Out with Thomas
December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22
Join beloved storybook friend, Thomas the Tank Engine™, for a holiday event in Santa Cruz. Aspiring engineers and their families are invited to spend the day with their favorite No. 1 engine for a 25-minute round-trip Thomas train ride departing from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Ticket price includes a ride on the Boardwalk’s historic Looff Carousel, a “make and take” Thomas ornament, photo opportunities with Sir Topham Hatt and Thomas the Tank Engine™, and other fun activities
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train
Vintage excursion cars, adorned with thousands of colorful lights, roll through the streets of Santa Cruz as passengers lend their voices to holiday carols, sip hot spiced cider. and listen to musical entertainment while Santa visits the little ones, or the young at heart! Continue the merriment with inclusive activity at Santa's Kingdom at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Overnight Accommodations:
