How we verify Christmas events

What the Verified badge means

A Verified badge on a Christmas event listing means the organizer confirmed the event's details with us and made a commitment to families. We publish what the organizer told us. That is all the badge means.

• The organizer confirmed the details. Someone who runs or represents the event filled in our verification form.
• The listing matches what they told us. We check that the information on our site is the information the organizer gave us.
• The organizer made a commitment. They ticked a required box that says: "We're committed to providing safe Christmas magic for kids."

What we check, and what we do not

Rally Takes the Train is a publisher, not an event organizer. Every event in our guide is run by its own independent organizer.

• We check the listing against the organizer's answers. Our job is to make sure the listing says what the organizer told us.
• We do not inspect events. We do not visit venues, attend events or review safety plans.
• We do not screen people. We do not run background checks on organizers, staff, volunteers or performers.
• We do not guarantee the information is true. Organizers are responsible for the accuracy of what they tell us, and details can change after they verify.

Every question we ask organizers

This is the full verification form. Questions marked required must be answered to verify. The rest are optional, and organizers answer what they can.

The basics

• What is your event called? (required)
• What date does it start? (required)
• What time does it start? (required)
• What time does it end?
• Official event website or ticket page
• How often does it happen? One date, several specific dates, or repeats on a schedule (required)
• Every date and the hours for each
• Last day of the event, if it runs more than one day
• What time do doors or gates open?
• Your email (required)

Where it happens

• Venue name (required)
• Venue street address (required)
• City (required)
• State or region (required)
• ZIP or postal code
• Country (required)
• Is it in person, online, or both? (required)
• Livestream link, if online
• Describe your event

Who is confirming

• First name (required)
• Last name (required)
• Your role: organizer, venue, volunteer, PR or marketing, or other (required)
• Phone, for listing questions only
• Confirmation: "I'm authorized to share this event's details" (required)
• Our commitment to families: "We're committed to providing safe Christmas magic for kids" (required)
• Agreement to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy (required)

Tickets and pricing

• Is it free, free with RSVP, paid, or by suggested donation?
• Adult ticket price
• Child ticket price
• Family pack price
• Where can families buy tickets?
• When do tickets go on sale?
• Currency
• How are tickets selling? Available, selling fast, or sold out

Who it is for

• What kind of event is it? Tree lighting, holiday market, parade, lights display, Santa visit, concert or show, train ride, church service, or other
• Youngest recommended age
• Oldest recommended age
• Who will love it most? All ages, families with young kids, teens and adults, or adults only (21+)
• What can kids do there? Meet Santa, photos with Santa, crafts, games, rides, story time, letters to Santa, animals, or other
• What languages is it in?

Getting there and comfort

• Accessibility features: wheelchair-accessible entrance, accessible paths and seating, accessible restrooms, accessible parking, ASL interpreter or captions, sensory-friendly hours or quiet area, service animals welcome, assistive listening devices, and mostly paved, level ground
• Parking: free lot, paid lot, street parking only, or no parking
• Can families get there by public transit?
• Indoors, outdoors, or both?
• What is on site? Restrooms, food for sale, alcohol served, stroller-friendly, changing stations, seating, pets allowed, and heated areas
• What happens if the weather is bad?
• About how many people do you expect?

The people behind it

• Who organizes it?
• Organizer's website
• Public contact for families
• Performers or special guests
• Event sponsors
• Main social page
• Is it part of a bigger festival or series?

The form also asks organizers whether they want a reminder next year, how they heard about us, and whether they want to request a paid position. Those answers do not affect verification.

What organizers agree to

By verifying, an organizer agrees to our Organizer Terms. In short, they confirm that their information is accurate, and they agree to provide a safe, supervised and age-appropriate environment for children. They also agree that they alone are responsible for running their event.

What Verified does not mean

• It is not a safety inspection, certification or background check.
• It is not an endorsement or a recommendation from Rally Takes the Train.
• It is not a guarantee that details will stay the same.

Parents and guardians decide what is right for their children. Please confirm details with the organizer before you go. Our Terms of Use explain this in full.

Free and paid listings

Verification is free, and the questions are the same for every event. Some organizers pay for a Featured or Sponsored position on a city page, and those listings are labeled. Payment changes where a listing appears. It does not buy the Verified badge.

Deadline and removals

Organizers are asked to verify by December 1, 2026. Listings that are not verified by then are removed from the guide. We may also remove any listing after a report, or if an organizer breaks our Organizer Terms.

Report a problem

If a listing looks wrong, or you have a concern about an event, email hello@rallytakesthetrain.com. If you believe a child is in danger, contact local emergency services first.

Organizers can verify a listing or list an event for free.