For the second holiday season in a row, the Chippewa River Trolley Co. is offering a plethora of unforgettable experiences to passengers of all ages. Consider the vintage-style red trolley a kind of Magic School Bus that can whisk passengers through space and time on the road to holiday joy, from a journey through town complete with hundreds of thousands of festive lights to a charming, child-friendly visit with Santa in a historic schoolhouse to a tasty trip for grownups complete with cocktails and chocolate toffee.

Launched by Volume One last year, the Chippewa River Trolley Co. is known for offering signature tours of Eau Claire’s past and present as well as experiences themed around dark history, wineries, breweries, urban nature, and much more. This November and December, it will steer straight into the season. Here’s what’s in store!

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THE HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS TROLLEY

The trolley will be decked out for the season on this tour, which will offer brand-new experiences for 2024. From the seasonal warmth of The Local Store (205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire), the tour departs on the festively decorated – and heated! – vintage trolley to explore the shimmering holiday lights of downtown Eau Claire and the incredibly dynamic new “Lights in the Valley” display, with tons of cheer in between. A holiday host will guide and entertain with stories, trivia, and music on the way to an impressive and immersive brand-new display on the city’s south side. “Lights in the Valley” is a nearly one-mile drive-through animated holiday spectacular with 200,000 color-changing lights and nearly 500 custom-built props and trees, all coordinated to a medley of modern and classic Christmas tunes.

From there the trolley will return to downtown Eau Claire with even more festive fun en route, including prizes awarded for those who know their holiday movies and music! Once back at The Local Store, passengers can enjoy a crackling fire, free hot chocolate, cookies, and maybe even a family holiday photo with the trolley.

The tour will last about 75 minutes and is open to all ages (with the exception of very small infants or children who typically require rear-facing car seats). Tickets are already on sale, and tours begin Friday, Nov. 29, and run nearly every day through the end of December.

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SCHOOLHOUSE CHRISTMAS TROLLEY EXPRESS

Another highlight of the season will be the Schoolhouse Christmas Trolley Express, a 50-minute tour running throughout December. This magical tour is geared at kids ages 2 to 9 and their accompanying grown-ups – or anyone else young at heart!

The tour promises to provide lasting memories for little ones. Beginning from The Local Store the festively decorated trolley will carry kiddos on a ride through downtown Eau Claire as its Victorian-clad conductor shares kid-focused holiday stories, songs, and more. The trolley will arrive in the woods of Carson Park to pay a visit to the charming and historic Sunnyview School, where participants will experience a historic schoolhouse Christmas complete with hot chocolate, cookies, music, and activities – not to mention a visit from St. Nick himself! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there, and children will have an opportunity to pose for photos with them.

Afterward, travelers will board the trolley again for the return trip to The Local Store where they’ll be able to ring the vintage trolley bell, pose for photos with the trolley and its driver, and take home a free trolley coloring page which they can enter in a drawing to win a basket full of kid-oriented Local Store goodies! The visit to the Sunnyview School is made possible through a partnership with the Chippewa Valley Museum, and participating in the tour will help support both the museum and the Eau Claire Community Humane Association.

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HOLIDAY COCKTAIL & CHOCOLATE TOFFEE TOUR

The old-time wonders of the Chippewa River Trolley aren’t just for kiddos, of course: Passengers 21 and older will be shaken and stirred by this three-hour evening tour featuring of custom cocktails and decadent chocolate-covered toffee. After departing The Local Store, the trolley will explore the shimmering holiday lights of Downtown Eau Claire and Altoona’s River Prairie en route to visit Helix Wine, Craft Bar & Cafe for a sample of their cranberry-spice Yule Mule. Next, the trolley will meander to the cozy little kitchen of Just a Taste Toffee to enjoy sampling of many flavors of expertly crafted chocolate-covered toffees, as well as a brief talk from the owner about how their delicious treats are made. To end the night, passengers will travel to The Lakely to relax in the cozy fireside space with the final cocktail of the evening – The Cold Fashioned – a winterized version of the classic Old Fashioned with bourbon, orange bitters, and a custom holiday syrup of rosemary, cinnamon, and maple. (In addition to the included food and beverages, patrons will be welcome to order a bite or two to eat at an additional charge at any of the establishments.)

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For a full schedule and to purchase tickets, visit chippewarivertrolley.org and click on “Tours.”