Day Out With Thomas
If it goes Choo! Choo! it has to be on the radar of things to do. We ride the train at Navy Pier, and the Lincoln Park Zoo, and Kiddieland. But one day a year, you get to ride the Prince of all trains, Thomas, at Day Out With Thomas in Union, Illinois. This year Thomas will be in town Friday, Saturday and Sunday August 15-17 and Saturday and Sunday August 23 & 24. Tickets cost $18 for each person 2 years and older. The admission includes a 20 minute ride on Thomas. The train runs every 1/2 hour and you must buy tickets for a specific time. So if you prefer to go on a particular date or need to work around nap schedules, buy your tickets now because they go fast.
As you approach the event, you will cross railroad tracks where you might get a glimpse of Thomas chugging toward you. He’ll come right at you and it’s worth timing it just right so your kid can get a clear glimpse of Thomas. If your kid is like ours, he may be slightly freaked out when he sees Thomas for the first time. Though our kid saw many different replicas on a small scale, seeing the full size Thomas struck a combination of awe, excitement, and bewilderment. I remember him saying “Why is Thomas out of the TV?”
Once you get into the grounds, it is train utopia. The main event is your 20 minute ride on Thomas which is cute and exciting for the little guys. There are exhibits with electric model trains that the kids can watch, Thomas train tables to play with and you can meet Sir Topham Hat. In addition there are puppet shows, magic shows, live music and storytelling.
Day Out with Thomas is held at the Illinois Railway Museum, so aside from the Thomas related activities there are many trains on display that you can learn about and climb on. There is a non-Thomas train you can ride that takes you around the event grounds. This is a nice ride on a steam engine, but beware that it is a 30 to 40 minute ride. We were shocked and our kid was a little antsy when it took an unexpected amount of time, so you have been warned.
You won’t be raving about the food at Thomas’ Day Out and it is not a bad idea to bring with some of your kid’s favorites. We would recommend any of the barbecue sandwiches and there is always ice cream.
If your kid wants to be a useful engine, Day Out with Thomas is a quick burst of excitement. There aren’t a ton of things to do, but you’ll get some great pictures, some great laughs, and a pretty happy kid. For Thomas fanatics, it is worth the ride on a nice day in August.
Review Day Out With Thomas Here
Larry and Donna
Mom Says: For the years in our son’s life when Thomas was his favorite toy and favorite TV show, this was a fabulous event for us. It was really exciting for him to see the engine in person and overall is was a fun day for the family. If your child is in the “Thomas Stage”, I would definitely recommend this event.
Dad Says: Our Thomas phase might be coming to an end as things like Buzz Lightyear and Speed Racer are becoming more exciting, but every year we look forward to seeing his face when he sees Thomas for the first time of the day, and we are not disappointed.