A Day Out With Thomas™, the Annual Event that Proves to be A Keepsake Family Memory

Summer break always feels short until you start filling the calendar, and nothing books faster — or sticks longer in family lore — than a ride with a certain blue train. Day Out With Thomas: The Party Tour at Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) isn’t just a day trip; it’s the moment your toddler’s love for trains jumps from floor-track loops to real steel rails, complete with whistles, conductors, and bounce-house belly laughs. Moms who remember their own Thomas train rides as a child now get to watch their kids press smiling faces against century-old windows for their first train ride. 

With only four event dates (July 12th-13th and 19th-20th) in Union, Illinois, those whistles will echo for just two midsummer weekends this July. If you’re hunting for an outing that delivers squeals in the moment and scrapbook gold for years, this is the one you circle, highlight, and set a reminder for. 

All aboard for an 80-year legacy

Thomas & Friends has been guiding young imaginations for eight decades, and Day Out With Thomas turns that timeless storytelling into a hands-on adventure. Every summer at the IRM, century-old coaches roll out behind a smiling blue Thomas the Tank Engine, blending living railroad history with Thomas & Friends’ signature lessons of friendship and discovery. 

What began as a single weekend Illinois attraction in the year 2000 is now a treasured ritual: parents who once waved from stroller height now share the window seat with their own little engineers. The result is a keepsake experience that links past and present — one whistle, one photograph, and one happy train ride at a time. 

Ride, play, repeat: What to expect this year

From the first “Peep peep!” to the last bubble floating over the Celebration Station, Day Out With Thomas packs every hour with ways for kids to burn energy and parents to capture grin-worthy moments. 

Here’s how the 2025 Party Tour stacks the fun long before (and long after) your family’s train whistle blows:

• Two train options: Every ticket includes a 20-minute journey behind Thomas. Families who add the optional ticket can hop back on for a second spin with Percy, Thomas’ green friend. 
• Bounce-houses: Two bounce houses and an inflatable slide are perfect for releasing pre-ride wiggles or post-ride squeals. 
• Hands-on creativity: Kids will personalize party hats and send birthday cards to Thomas the Tank Engine.
• Live entertainment: Leonardo Music for Kids, Jodi’s JiggleJams, and the TwistiCity Bubble Show keep the lawn humming while Sir Topham Hatt poses for photos and high-fives. 
• Unlimited streetcar rides and museum access: Your ticket opens every historic barn and streetcar line at the nation’s largest railway museum, so your crew can wander at its own pace.

Why moms love it: Practical perks you’ll notice fast

One ticket unlocks all event-related activities — bounce houses, craft tents, live music, unlimited streetcar rides, photos with Thomas, Percy, and Sir Topham Hatt, and, of course, the train journey.

Your family won’t feel crowded, either; with 100 acres of prairie and historic barns, the Illinois Railway Museum offers wide avenues for strollers, easy spots for quick diaper changes, and shady corners for sensory breaks even on sell-out days. Better yet, nearly every turn provides an Instagram-ready backdrop, whether it’s confetti-festooned Thomas & Friends décor or vintage railway cars, engines, and equipment spread throughout the event grounds.

Plan your day like a pro

Many families easily spend hours at the event. If you’re planning to get the most out of your day,  a little strategy can go a long way. Think in two broad blocks — pre-ride and post-ride — and you’ll cover every highlight without feeling rushed. Since tickets sell fast, especially at peak hours, plan ahead and purchase your desired train ride time online at www.dayoutwiththomas.com.

Pro Tips for Your Day

• Arrive Early: The time on your ticket is your train departure time. Trains leave on time. Plan to arrive at least 1 hour ahead of your train departure time to allow for parking, check-in, a visit to the bathroom, and boarding. And, if you plan to hit your must-do’s before your train ride, plan to arrive even earlier to pack in your top activity picks that you know your family will want to do.
  • Super Tip: Have your e-tickets ready to be scanned when entering the event site for easy arrival. Can’t find your ticket? Ask Event Staff at the front gate to help look up your ticket.

• Comfortable Shoes: Illinois Railway Museum’s site is large! Getting around is easy and stroller-friendly, but also be prepared to explore the expansive grounds. Comfy shoes for the whole family are suggested.
• Pack Snacks and Water: Food and beverages are available for purchase onsite. However, snacks and water breaks throughout the day can make the day go by easier.
• Photos with Thomas and Percy: You can take photos with Thomas and Percy whenever they are in the station. 

Don’t miss the highlights!

• Craft & coloring stations: If little legs tire from all the fun, slide into the nearby tents to decorate party hats and color a birthday card for Thomas & Friends.
• Streetcar loop: Hop aboard the breezy streetcar for a cooldown.
• Live shows & bubble magic: Stake out shady lawn space for TwistiCity’s giant bubbles or dance along with Leonardo Music for Kids and Jodi’s JiggleJams.
• Explore exhibit barns: When the sun peaks, dive into the climate-controlled barns to marvel at gleaming steam engines — and snap a few Instagram-worthy family photos.
• Gift shop: Before heading out, stop by the pop-up gift shop for exclusive Day Out With Thomas souvenirs you can only get at the event
• Say hello to Sir Topham Hatt: Meet the Controller of the Railway to tell him about your favorite part of your day and snap a photo together!

Quick facts at a glance

Dates: July 12th-13th and 19th-20th, 2025.

Location: Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olson Road, Union, IL 60180.

Tickets: Starting at $25 (under-1s ride free); advance purchase recommended at DayOutWithThomas.com.

Secure your seats, pack a picnic blanket, and get ready to watch your child’s eyes light up the moment Thomas the Tank Engine pulls into the station. Day Out With Thomas isn’t just another activity on the calendar — it’s a keepsake in the making.

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