Halloween Train Rides in Massachusetts (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 21 min read

The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum is running pumpkin patch rides for the first time this fall, on vintage equipment out of a small platform on Hoosac Street in Adams, in the far northwest corner of the state. Four Massachusetts Halloween train rides still have dates after October 14, and all four are gentle pumpkin and costume rides: three leave from that Adams platform (the pumpkin patch run, a one-day ghost story trip told at kid level, and two Halloween Day trains), and the fourth is a Cape Cod storytelling train in Hyannis. For the full picture, browse our guide to pumpkin and haunted trains in every state.

If you live east of Worcester, Adams is a long drive, but this year Boston families have a nearer choice: Cape Cod Central's Myths and Legends train leaves Hyannis once, on the morning of Oct 31. Edaville and Shelburne Falls had no 2026 Halloween ride in our research, so for other weekends we also lay out pumpkin trolleys in Connecticut and a not-too-spooky train in New Hampshire below.

The short version

  • Pittsfield families are about 25 minutes from the Hoosac Valley Pumpkin Patch Rides, which run Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 in booking slots of about 2 hours 30 minutes that include the pumpkin patch stop.
  • If your kids like a story, the Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion has a single 2:00 PM departure on Saturday, Oct 17, so book that one first.
  • For a ride on the holiday itself, the museum's Halloween Trains leave Adams at 1:30 and 3:00 PM on Oct 31 and last about an hour.
  • Boston families are closest to the Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween Train in Hyannis, about 1 hour 20 minutes away, which runs once, at 11:30 AM on Oct 31.
  • From Springfield it is about 1 hour 20 minutes to Adams, and from Boston about 2 hours 50 minutes, so plan Adams as a full Berkshires day.

Springfield families have a closer pumpkin ride over the Connecticut line: East Windsor is about 20 minutes away.

Watercolor of a red train car on a cliffside track heading into a dark tunnel
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Look inside the book

A dark tunnel, a brave corgi. Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi rides into a dark tunnel, gets a little scared, and comes out to a big bright light and happy cheers. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to a Massachusetts pumpkin train.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Compare every Massachusetts Halloween train side by side

Every ride on this page in one table: type, dates left, the lowest posted ticket price, ride length, who it suits and whether tickets are still on sale. Tap a ride for the full details.

RideTypeDates leftTicketsLengthBest forStatus
Pumpkin Patch Rides on the Hoosac Valley Train RideAdamsPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)See railroadAbout 2 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion on the Hoosac Valley Train RideAdamsPumpkin and costumeSat Oct 17See railroadAbout 2 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Halloween Trains on the Hoosac Valley Train RideAdamsPumpkin and costumeSat Oct 31See railroadAbout 1 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween Train on the Cape Cod Central RailroadHyannisPumpkin and costumeSat Oct 31From $24.99About 2 to 2.5 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale

The rest of October at a glance

When each Massachusetts Halloween train still runs

Oct 14Oct 21Oct 31

Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night

Massachusetts Halloween train calendar: what runs which day

Every remaining date for every ride on this page, from today through Halloween weekend. Green is a gentle pumpkin and costume ride, blue is a haunted ride. Tap a ride to jump to its details.

Adams: Pumpkin Patch Rides on the Hoosac Valley Train Ride

Next: Sat Oct 17Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeAbout 2 hoursDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

This is new for 2026: the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum's first pumpkin patch rides, on vintage equipment out of Adams. The booking system blocks out about 2 hours 30 minutes per departure, and that window includes the stop at the pumpkin patch. The museum pitches it as a family ride, not a scary one.

Saturday, Oct 17 has just an 11:00 AM train; the other three days add a 2:00 PM. Fares come in Coach and First Class, with lap seats for kids under 3, but prices only appear at checkout. Park at the Adams Visitor Center on Depot Street and check in at the green railcar on the platform. There are no toilets on board, so use the restrooms at Adams Station first.

Pumpkin Patch Rides on the Hoosac Valley Train Ride at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin patch train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
All four dates on sale as of Oct 14, with no departures sold out
Times
Sat Oct 17: 11:00 AM only. Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25: 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Arrive 45 minutes early to park and check in
Ride length
Booking slot of about 2 hours 30 minutes, including the pumpkin patch stop
What's included
Vintage train ride with a pumpkin patch stop; whether a pumpkin is included is not posted
Price
Coach or First Class (adult 13+, child 3 to 12, under 3 free on a lap) plus a First Class Table for Four; prices show only at checkout, so check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; a family pumpkin ride, not scary
Costumes
No costume rules posted; check the operator site No costume? The Rally tunnel tee counts.
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site. The historic cars cannot take wheelchairs, and there are no toilets on board
Parking
Park at the Adams Visitor Center, 55 Depot St (not the Berkshire Mill lot), then check in at the green railcar on the platform at 4 Hoosac St
Where
Adams Station platform, 4 Hoosac St, Adams, MA 01220

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Adams: Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion on the Hoosac Valley Train Ride

Next: Sat Oct 17Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeAbout 2 hoursDates left: Oct 17

On one afternoon only, Saturday, Oct 17 at 2:00 PM, the Hoosac Valley train carries author Robert Oakes, who reads children's ghost stories on board, paired with the same pumpkin patch stop as the regular rides. It runs in daylight and is pitched at kids, so we list it with the gentle rides, not the haunted ones.

The booking slot is about 2 hours 30 minutes including the patch, and the fare classes match the pumpkin rides, though prices appear only at checkout. With a single departure, there is only one chance to ride it this year, so book early if your kids have their hearts set on it.

Children's Ghost Stories and Pumpkin Patch Excursion on the Hoosac Valley Train Ride at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime kids' ghost story and pumpkin patch train
Dates left
Sat Oct 17 only
Tickets
Single 2:00 PM departure on sale and not sold out as of Oct 14
Times
Sat Oct 17 at 2:00 PM
Ride length
Booking slot of about 2 hours 30 minutes, including the pumpkin patch stop
What's included
Children's ghost stories read on board by author Robert Oakes, plus a pumpkin patch stop
Price
Same Coach and First Class fares as the pumpkin rides (adult 13+, child 3 to 12, infant under 3); prices show only at checkout, so check the operator site
Ages and scare level
Ghost stories pitched at kids, in daylight; no minimum age stated
Costumes
No costume rules posted; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Park at the Adams Visitor Center, 55 Depot St (not the Berkshire Mill lot)
Where
Adams Station platform, 4 Hoosac St, Adams, MA 01220

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Adams: Halloween Trains on the Hoosac Valley Train Ride

Next: Sat Oct 31Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeAbout 1 hourDates left: Oct 31

If your kids want to ride a train on Halloween itself, this is the Massachusetts option in the Berkshires. The museum runs two departures on Saturday, Oct 31, at 1:30 and 3:00 PM, and bills them as a family-friendly Halloween train ride of about an hour on its vintage equipment.

That early afternoon timing leaves plenty of room for trick-or-treating back home after dark. The museum has not posted prices, a costume rule or what happens on board beyond the ride, so check the ticket page. Park in the Adams Visitor Center lot on Depot Street and walk the rail trail across Hoosac Street to the platform; the Berkshire Mill lot is off limits.

Halloween Trains on the Hoosac Valley Train Ride at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime family Halloween train on Oct 31, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 31 only
Tickets
Both departures on sale and not sold out as of Oct 14
Times
1:30 PM and 3:00 PM
Ride length
About 1 hour
What's included
Family-friendly Halloween train ride on vintage equipment; other details not posted
Price
Not public outside checkout; check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; billed as a family-friendly Halloween train ride
Costumes
No costume rules posted; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Adams Visitor Center lot, 55 Depot St; walk the rail trail across Hoosac St to the platform. Do not park in the Berkshire Mill lot
Where
Adams Station, 4 Hoosac St, Adams, MA 01220

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Hyannis: Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween Train on the Cape Cod Central Railroad

Next: Sat Oct 31Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $24.99About 2 to 2.5 hoursDates left: Oct 31

New for 2026, Cape Cod Central fills its vintage cars with Cape folklore on Halloween morning. Performers from the WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company narrate sea myths, local legends and ghost tales as the train rolls out of Hyannis, and the railroad calls it family-friendly storytelling for all ages rather than a scare ride. Costumes are highly encouraged.

There is one departure, at 11:30 AM on Saturday, Oct 31, and the railroad says the trip runs 2 to 2.5 hours. Standard Class is $29.99 for adults and $24.99 for kids 3 to 12, with First and Premium Class above that. The club car seats are 21 and over, so book the regular classes with children.

Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween Train on the Cape Cod Central Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime Halloween storytelling train for all ages, costumes encouraged
Dates left
Sat Oct 31 only
Tickets
Single 11:30 AM departure on sale and not sold out as of Oct 14
Times
11:30 AM
Ride length
About 2 to 2.5 hours, per the railroad
What's included
Scenic ride in vintage cars with narrated Cape Cod folklore, legends and ghost stories presented with the WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company
Price
Standard Class $29.99 adult (13+), $24.99 child (3 to 12); First Class $39.99 and $34.99; Premium Class $54.99 and $49.99. Deluxe Club Car seats are 21 and over
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the railroad calls it family-friendly and for all ages
Costumes
Costumes highly encouraged
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Hyannis Depot, 252 Main St, Hyannis, MA 02601

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Rally’s Spooky Train Ride: Halloween shirts

The tunnel page from the book, Rally on his red seat in the dark, is printed on black shirts in sizes for the whole family, from baby to 5XL. Skip the costume hassle: no masks to fog up, no capes caught in the train door, just a shirt that already says Halloween and layers under a coat on a cold platform. A matching set makes for easy pumpkin train photos. See everything in the Rally shop.

Closer Pumpkin Rides for Springfield and Boston Families in Connecticut and New Hampshire

Springfield families have it easiest: the Connecticut Trolley Museum's Pumpkin Patch Trolley in East Windsor is about 20 minutes away and runs Fridays to Sundays through Nov 1, with a free sugar pumpkin for each child. From Boston it is about 1 hour 50 minutes. See our Connecticut trolley and train guide for the rest of that state's pumpkin rides.

For northern Massachusetts, the Conway Scenic Railroad's Halloween Express in North Conway, about 2 hours 45 minutes from Boston, is a daytime ride the railroad calls not-too-spooky, running Oct 24 and 25. It is on our New Hampshire Halloween train page along with a festival train in Laconia.

How Long It Takes to Reach Adams and Hyannis From Boston, Springfield and Pittsfield

Times are approximate without traffic, so add a cushion for weekend traffic heading west to the Berkshires or over the bridges to the Cape.

Drive times, no traffic

Adams
about 25 min from Pittsfield; about 1 hr 20 min from Springfield; about 2 hr 50 min from Boston
Adams
about 25 min from Pittsfield; about 1 hr 20 min from Springfield; about 2 hr 50 min from Boston
Adams
about 25 min from Pittsfield; about 1 hr 20 min from Springfield; about 2 hr 50 min from Boston
Hyannis
about 1 hr 20 min from Boston; about 2 hr 30 min from Springfield; about 3 hr 15 min from Pittsfield

The Berkshires Turn Cold Fast in Late October

Across most of Massachusetts, October days run 55 to 65 degrees, and the east stays milder but damp. Adams is a different story. The Berkshires sit higher up and cool off quickly, with mornings and dusk often in the 40s by late October.

Every Hoosac Valley Halloween train runs in daylight, so you will not be out after the roughly 6:05 PM mid October sunset, but an 11:00 AM departure on Oct 24 or 25 can feel like winter to a toddler in a thin costume. Dress kids for the 40s, with a hat and a layer that zips over the costume. The Halloween morning train in Hyannis is a different climate: milder and damp on the Cape, so a rain shell over the costume matters more than mittens.

Will Ghost Stories on a Massachusetts Train Bother a Preschooler?

The Pumpkin Patch Rides have nothing spooky in them at all: a vintage train and a pumpkin patch. That is the safe pick for a first Halloween train, and it runs on all four remaining October weekend dates. The Oct 31 Halloween Trains in Adams are billed as family-friendly too.

Two rides use stories. The Oct 17 Children's Ghost Stories trip has an author reading tales written for kids, in daylight, and Cape Cod Central's Halloween morning train brings a theater company aboard to tell sea myths and ghost legends that the railroad says suit all ages. Every child is different, though. If yours gets upset at ghost talk, explain beforehand that the stories are pretend and that you will sit right next to them the whole time, and pick a seat near the end of the car so a break is easy.

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

My favorite early page in our book is Rally waking up before everyone, finding the suitcase, and packing his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. For a Berkshires morning on the Adams pumpkin train, I would let kids pack their own small bag the same way, with one comfort toy, mittens and a snack. Slip in a couple of our Rally coloring printables for the long drive west.

Rally's suitcase came straight from my mom's imagination, and why I finished her story is told on our story page.

Practical Notes for the Hoosac Valley Rides in Adams and the Hyannis Halloween Train

  • In Adams, park at the Adams Visitor Center, 55 Depot Street, not the Berkshire Mill lot, and walk across to the platform at 4 Hoosac Street. Check in at the green railcar, and plan to arrive 45 minutes early.
  • The Children's Ghost Stories excursion is a single 2:00 PM departure on Saturday, Oct 17, and that day the pumpkin ride runs only at 11:00 AM. Book those two first if Oct 17 is your day.
  • Hoosac Valley prices appear only at checkout, and every sale is final, so settle your date before you pay.
  • There are no toilets on the Hoosac Valley train. Use the restrooms at Adams Station before boarding, especially with a 2.5 hour booking slot.
  • The museum's evening Chilling Tales on Mysterious Rails trips are adults only, so do not book them by mistake while browsing the Halloween listings.
  • On Cape Cod Central's Oct 31 train, the Deluxe Club Car is 21 and over; families should choose Standard, First or Premium Class.
  • Edaville in Carver and the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum had no 2026 Halloween train in our research.

A train book for the ride

If what your kids really want is a long ride on a big train, our guides to the Lake Shore Limited with kids and the Northeast Regional for families both start in Boston and make for a very different train day.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the line at the depot or the drive home.

Get the free coloring pages for Adams
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents, including one dark tunnel he is brave enough to ride through. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Sources

Checked against each railroad’s own pages and ticket calendars on October 14, 2026. Dates, prices and policies change, so confirm with the railroad before you go.

Massachusetts Halloween Train Questions, From Adams to Boston

What Halloween events are there for kids in Adams, Massachusetts?

Adams has three family Halloween trains from the Hoosac Valley Train Ride, run by the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum. The new Pumpkin Patch Rides stop at a pumpkin patch on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. On Oct 17 at 2:00 PM, an author reads children's ghost stories on board. On Oct 31, family Halloween Trains leave at 1:30 and 3:00 PM. Prices appear only at checkout, so check the operator site.

Is there a pumpkin patch train in Adams, MA this fall?

Yes. The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum is running its first pumpkin patch rides this year, on vintage equipment out of the Adams Station platform at 4 Hoosac Street. Each booking slot is about 2 hours 30 minutes including the patch stop. It runs at 11:00 AM on Saturday, Oct 17, and at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Oct 18, 24 and 25. The museum has not said whether a pumpkin is included.

Are there any Halloween events for kids in Hyannis, Massachusetts this October?

One family Halloween event in Hyannis is Cape Cod Central's Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween Train, new for 2026. It leaves Hyannis Depot at 11:30 AM on Saturday, Oct 31, for a ride of 2 to 2.5 hours while a theater company tells Cape folklore and ghost legends. The railroad calls it family-friendly for all ages and encourages costumes. Standard Class runs $24.99 for kids and $29.99 for adults.

Is there a Halloween train for kids near Boston, Massachusetts?

Yes, on one day. Cape Cod Central's Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween Train leaves Hyannis, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Boston, at 11:30 AM on Oct 31, with costumed storytelling for all ages. For other weekends, the Connecticut Trolley Museum's Pumpkin Patch Trolley in East Windsor is about 1 hour 50 minutes away, and the Adams rides are about 2 hours 50 minutes west.

What is the closest pumpkin train to Springfield, MA?

The closest is just over the state line: the Pumpkin Patch Trolley at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, about 20 minutes from Springfield, which runs Fridays to Sundays through Nov 1 and gives each child a free sugar pumpkin. Inside Massachusetts, the Hoosac Valley Pumpkin Patch Rides in Adams are about 1 hour 20 minutes away and run Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25.

What Halloween things can kids do near Pittsfield, Massachusetts?

One family Halloween outing near Pittsfield is the Hoosac Valley Train Ride in Adams, about 25 minutes away. The gentle Pumpkin Patch Rides run on vintage equipment with a pumpkin patch stop on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. On Oct 17 at 2:00 PM, a children's ghost story trip leaves the same platform, and on Oct 31 the museum runs family Halloween Trains at 1:30 and 3:00 PM.

Can kids wear costumes on the Hoosac Valley Train Ride in Adams?

The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum has not posted a costume rule for its Halloween rides, so check the operator site. If your kids dress up, keep in mind that Adams sits up in the Berkshires, where late October mornings and dusk are often in the 40s, so choose a costume that fits over a coat or a warm fleece and lets them climb aboard a vintage car.

Is the Hoosac Valley children's ghost story train too scary for a toddler?

It is unlikely to be, since an author reads ghost stories written for children and the trip runs in the afternoon with a pumpkin patch stop. Very sensitive toddlers may still not enjoy ghost talk, and in that case the regular Pumpkin Patch Rides or the Oct 31 Halloween Trains, with no stories billed, are the safer pick. Bring a snack, since the booking slot runs about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Are there still tickets for the Adams pumpkin train this weekend?

Yes. As of October 14, the Hoosac Valley Train Ride had seats on every Halloween departure this weekend, none sold out. Saturday, Oct 17 has the pumpkin ride at 11:00 AM and the single Children's Ghost Stories trip at 2:00 PM. Sunday, Oct 18 has pumpkin rides at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Book through the museum's ticket page, and arrive 45 minutes early to check in.

How long is the pumpkin patch train ride in Adams, Massachusetts?

Plan on about 2 hours 30 minutes. That is the booking slot in the museum's ticket system, and it includes the pumpkin patch stop, so the train portion is shorter. Add 45 minutes for parking and check in. For toddlers, that is a long stretch with no toilets on board, so use the Adams Station restrooms first. The Oct 31 Halloween Trains are shorter, at about one hour.

Where do you park for the Hoosac Valley train in Adams?

Park at the Adams Visitor Center, 55 Depot Street, and not in the Berkshire Mill lot. From there, walk the rail trail across Hoosac Street to the boarding platform at 4 Hoosac Street and check in at the green railcar. The museum asks riders to arrive 45 minutes early. The historic cars cannot take wheelchairs, and stroller rules were not posted, so check the operator site.

Does Edaville or Cape Cod Central have a Halloween train in 2026?

Cape Cod Central does, Edaville does not appear to. Cape Cod Central's new Myths and Legends of Cape Cod Halloween Train leaves Hyannis at 11:30 AM on Oct 31, with fares from $24.99 for kids. Our research found no 2026 Halloween train on Edaville's site in Carver, and the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum lists only regular ride days in October.

What should kids wear on a Berkshires train ride in late October?

Dress them for the 40s. The Berkshires sit at elevation and cool off fast, so mornings and dusk around Adams are often in the 40s by late October, even when eastern Massachusetts is milder. All the Hoosac Valley Halloween trains run in daylight, but bring hats, mittens and a layer that zips over the costume, especially for an 11:00 AM departure.

Is there a Massachusetts Halloween train on October 31 for kids?

Yes, two railroads run on Halloween, a Saturday this year. Cape Cod Central's storytelling train leaves Hyannis at 11:30 AM, and the Hoosac Valley Train Ride in Adams runs family Halloween Trains at 1:30 and 3:00 PM, each about an hour. Both were on sale with seats as of October 14, and both finish early enough for trick-or-treating at home.

Kelsey Cecil
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