Help the Choo Choo Barn feed local families in need by making its 23^rd annual food drive a success. Canned Food Fridays returns to the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA on December 2, 9 and 16, 2011. This year the food drive will benefit families in both Lancaster County and Chester County.

Admission to the Choo Choo Barn’s gigantic model train layout is free for those who donate at least one non-perishable food item on Canned Food Fridays. The 150 hand-built animations and 22 trains, which operate on the 1,700 square foot model train display, will amaze visitors of all ages. New this year, the display will be decked out with holiday decorations, 50 Santas and some Christmas magic! After exploring the unique model train display, children are invited to visit with Santa Claus at The Shops of Traintown, from 3:00 p.m. – to 8:00 p.m. As a special treat, children will receive a Choo Choo Barn coloring book and a coupon for a free cookie at Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli in Strasburg from Santa. 

The thousands of canned goods collected this year will be donated to the Lampeter United Methodist Church Food Cupboard and the Chester County Cares Food Bank. The Lampeter UMC Food Cupboard feeds hundreds of families from the Lampeter-Strasburg and surrounding areas every year. The Chester County Food Bank distributes over 1,000,000 pounds of food per year to more than 60 organizations, including food cupboards, area nonprofits and shelters.

Back by popular demand, families can ride the 7 p.m. train Fridays in December. Dressed in comfy pajamas or their Christmas best, children enjoy a 45-minute train ride as Santa, carolers and musicians stroll from car-to-car on the journey to Paradise, PA and back. Whether you visit in the evening or throughout the day, the holiday festivities begin on the platform of the East Strasburg Station as the air is filled with sounds of the season and holiday decorations that adorn the station. 

After the train ride, children are treated to old time holiday storybook readings in the caboose at the station. Families can also enjoy the Tinsel Trolley ride (a self-propelled motor car), a warm, fun trip down the tracks, all included in the ticket price. Finally, as a special treat, children ages 3 to 11 will receive a gift from Santa and his helper.

Santa’s Paradise Express will be at Strasburg Rail Road, Route 741, Strasburg, PA, November 25, 26 and 27, 2011. Also, see Santa December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18, 2011. Coach tickets are priced at $17 for adults, $10.50 for children ages 3-11, and $3 for kids 3 and under. For a complete listing of dates and times, or to purchase tickets go to www.StrasburgRailRoad.com or call (717) 687-7522. Follow us on Twitter @StrasburgRR or Like us on Facebook for updates and special offers!

Author Rick Roll and his son, Mike who illustrated the book, will be at the National Toy Train Museum, 300 Paradise Lane, Strasburg, PA to sign “The Trains of Christmas” on Saturday, Nov. 19^th from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm. This is a new wonderful story for the whole family about the great American holiday tradition of running your train around the Christmas tree and how holiday trains became so popular. Cost of the book is $19.95 plus tax. Some illustrations from the book will also be available for purchase.

Search for the 50 hidden Santas and watch as Santa’s sleigh flies above the 1,700 square foot model train extravaganza, which includes 150 hand-built animations and 22 moving trains. Enjoy the holiday decorations throughout the display including holiday lights and the snow-covered landscape. Plus, take a close look at the zoo animals in Traintown to see how they’re getting into the holiday spirit.

Celebrating its 50^th year, the Choo Choo Barn display is open daily from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., now through December 31, 2011. For more information call (717) 687-7911 or visit www.choochoobarn.com or check out Choo Choo Barn on Facebook.

October’s feature whoopie pie is Orange & Chocolate. Orange & Chocolate is soft orange cake with whipped chocolate filling.

Order here.

Learn more by visiting the Festival website here.

The Bakery at Hershey Farm and the Railroad Museum of PA are proud to bring you Dessert by Rail.

For more information on the Wine & Cheese Train and to make reservations click here.

Visit the Strasburg Railroad Wine & Cheese Train on youtube!

Start with the 25-minute guided tour of the Amish homestead. Learn about the history of the Amish, their religion, family life and cultural traditions, which remain an important part of our community’s culture. Then as you stroll around the 12-acre property, stop and talk with our Amish staff and learn about their culture first-hand.

You can even step into the shoes of an Amish student as you chat with an authentic Amish school teacher in the one-room school house. Find out what makes the Amish education different from your education and browse through real lessons and homework from local Amish students. Miss Lavina, the Amish teacher, will be at The Amish Village on Saturdays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm through the fall.

is proud to play host to the Salem Singers, a male chorus from Oregon whose motto is “Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the medium of music”. They will be in our area from September 9^th through September 18^th and will perform at various retirement communities and churches in Lancaster County. The performances are free to the public and CDs will be available for purchase. 

We encourage you to visit www.salemsingers.org for their Lancaster concert schedule and more information on these melodious males!