Edaville in Carver, Massachusetts

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Carver, Massachusetts · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Outdoor rail parkTrain ridesHoliday festival with train rides in late November and December; check the website for current offerings

Edaville grew from a cranberry grower's two-foot gauge railroad, finished with a golden spike in 1947, into one of New England's longest running holiday traditions, where generations of families have ridden the train through the lights of South Carver.

  • Railroad completed in 1947
  • Built from Maine two-foot gauge equipment
  • Holiday train through the lights
  • Pajama Express steam train option
  • Free parking
  • Ages 3 and under free

Edaville at a glance

Hours
Evening holiday festival on scheduled dates; times are posted with tickets on edaville.com
Admission
$36 general admission with Holiday Express ride; $65 First-Class Pajama Express; ages 3 and under free
Train rides
Holiday Express and steam train rides during the holiday festival; horse-drawn carriage rides
Seasonal events
Deck the Halls, Winter Warm Up, Holiday Artisan Marketplace, The Giving Tree, Let's Glow Crazy
Plan for
About 2 to 3 hours
Best for
Families making a December tradition
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12
Parking
Free on-site parking, first come first served, with free shuttles from overflow lots; no street parking on Route 58
Accessibility
Accessible parking is in the lot closest to the main entrance for vehicles with a valid placard or plate.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Edaville? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Carver.

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.

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

From the Cranberry Belt Line to a festival of lights

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, South Carver cranberry grower Ellis D. Atwood fell for the two-foot narrow gauge railroads of Maine. He visited them often and watched them close one after another during the Great Depression. When the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad was sold for scrap in the fall of 1941, he bought as much of its remaining rolling stock as he could, planning a railroad around his 1,800-acre plantation to haul cranberries to the screenhouse and supplies to the bogs.

World War II delayed the move, but afterward Atwood brought the equipment to South Carver, rebuilt it and laid track around his bogs. In April 1947 he and his wife held a golden spike ceremony. Friends were soon asking for rides, the trips through cranberry country proved so popular that the Atwoods put them on a schedule, and the railroad took a new name from his initials: Edaville, with the slogan Cranberry Belt Line. Christmas, with its lights, became the busiest season of all.

Atwood died in the early 1950s after a furnace explosion on site. His wife Elthea and her nephew kept the trains running until railroad fan Nelson Blount bought Edaville and grew it until his death in the late 1960s. Fred Richardson carried it on until George Bartholomew bought it in the early 1970s and ran it into the early 1990s, when Edaville closed and much of the original equipment went back to Maine.

Jon Delli-Priscoli and Brenda Johnson reopened Edaville in the late 1990s with more rides and railroad equipment. A new locally run team took over operations in 2022, and in 2025 the property began a new chapter that blends several New England outdoor entertainment traditions throughout the year.

Holiday villages around the railroad

During the holiday festival, the train is the centerpiece. General admission includes a ride on the Holiday Express through acres of light displays, and the First-Class Pajama Express ticket adds a ride behind Edaville's steam engine with extra perks. Around the line, Main Street greets you with treats and shops, Dickens Village has candlelight and carolers, the Classic Christmas Village takes inspiration from Thomas Kinkade's art and holds the outdoor skating rink, and the New Christmas Village has movies, fair food and a 21-and-over Jingle Bar.

Elsewhere you can visit Santa at the North Pole, ride a horse-drawn carriage, browse an artisan Christmas market and catch strolling performers, from a magician and stilt walker to Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Don’t miss

  1. The Edaville ExpressThe train ride through the light displays has been the heart of Edaville's Christmas season since the Atwoods' early years.
  2. The steam train on the Pajama ExpressThe First-Class Pajama Express includes a ride behind Edaville's steam engine, a link to the railroad's two-foot gauge roots.
  3. Santa at the North PoleA meet-and-greet with Santa and his helpers, with time for a family photo.
  4. Classic Christmas Village rinkAn outdoor skating rink ringed with lights in the middle of the festival.
  5. Dickens VillageCandlelit streets, roaming carolers and artisan shops in an old-fashioned holiday setting.

Pajamas, Santa and a train through the lights

Edaville's holiday festival is built for families. Children 3 and under get in free, every general admission ticket includes a train ride through the lights, and the Pajama Express invites kids to ride in their pajamas. Themed weekends add tacky sweater and pajama days, tree lighting contests and a neon glow party between Christmas and New Year's.

The festival is outdoors at night in December, so dress small children warmly. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your entry or train time on busy weekends to settle in without a rush.

Plan your visit: tips for Edaville

  • Book early; popular dates sell out every year.
  • Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your entry or train time on peak weekends.
  • Do not park on Route 58 or nearby streets; it is prohibited.
  • Bring a donation on Giving Tree weekend to receive a small thank-you gift.

Edaville is first and foremost a Christmas train. Each season the festival schedules themed weekends, such as Deck the Halls with a tree lighting, a Winter Warm Up for pajamas and tacky sweaters, a Holiday Artisan Marketplace, The Giving Tree charity weekend and a Let's Glow Crazy party after Christmas. For other options, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Massachusetts.

Owners who kept the trains running

Edaville has passed through many hands, from the Atwoods to Nelson Blount, Fred Richardson, George Bartholomew and the team that reopened it in the late 1990s, and since 2022 it has been run by a locally based team. It is a private attraction rather than a nonprofit museum, so the best way to support it is to buy tickets and come back each season.

Rail history a short drive from Carver

The Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum is about 22 miles away, and the Cape Cod Central Railroad, which runs its own Polar Express, is about 28 miles. Across the line in Rhode Island, the Newport Railway is about 30 miles off. Find more on our page of Massachusetts train museums.

Every train museum in Massachusetts

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Picture a child's nose pressed to the glass as the Edaville train rolls through acres of lights. In our book, Rally has his own window moment: through an arched train window the ocean appears, and he spots a white bird and greets it like family. My mom always loved small wonders like that. We made coloring pages of the scene for little ones to finish at home.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
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. 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

Work or volunteer at Edaville?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Edaville: 20 questions about the holiday train

Is Edaville still open?

Yes, Edaville operates as a seasonal holiday festival with train rides at 5 Pine Street in Carver. The park changed in 2025, when the property began blending several New England outdoor entertainment events through the year, and a news report described vintage equipment being removed to make room for King Richard's Faire. Check edaville.com for this season's offerings.

How much are Edaville tickets?

Edaville's ticket guide lists $36 for general admission, which includes festival access and a Holiday Express train ride, and $65 for the First-Class Pajama Express, which adds a ride on the steam engine train with extra perks. Guests 3 and under are free. Prices vary by date and experience, so confirm on the ticketing page.

What is the Edaville Pajama Express?

The First-Class Pajama Express is Edaville's premium holiday ticket. It includes festival access and a ride on the park's steam engine train, with extra perks, and it is designed for all ages, so kids can come ready for bed in their pajamas. Ticket details are on edaville.com.

When is the Edaville holiday festival?

The holiday festival runs on scheduled evenings from late November through the end of December, with themed weekends from a tree lighting kickoff to a post-Christmas glow party. Exact dates and entry times change each season and are posted with tickets on edaville.com. Popular dates sell out every year.

Where is Edaville?

Edaville is at 5 Pine Street in Carver, Massachusetts, in the South Carver cranberry country where the railroad began. The parking lot is about 500 feet up Pine Street off Rochester Road. From Boston, Route 3 to Route 44 to Route 58 is the posted route; from the Cape or Providence, use I-495 Exit 2.

Is parking free at Edaville?

Yes. All on-site parking at Edaville is free and first come, first served. On the busiest nights, staff and signs direct cars to auxiliary lots with a free shuttle bus to the gate. Street parking on Route 58 and nearby roads is prohibited, so use the lots.

Who founded Edaville?

Edaville was built by Ellis D. Atwood, a South Carver cranberry grower who bought two-foot gauge equipment from Maine's Bridgton & Saco River Railroad when it was scrapped in 1941. He laid track around his bogs after World War II and named the line Edaville, from his initials. A golden spike ceremony marked its completion in April 1947.

Why is it called the Edaville Railroad?

The name comes from founder Ellis D. Atwood's initials, E. D. A. He first planned to call his line the Bridgton & Saco River after the Maine railroad whose equipment he bought, then changed his mind. In its early years the railroad also used the slogan Cranberry Belt Line.

What happened to the original Edaville Railroad equipment?

When Edaville closed in the early 1990s, much of the original two-foot gauge equipment was returned to Maine. The park reopened in the late 1990s with new attractions and more railroad equipment. More recently, a news report described vintage equipment being hauled out as the property was rearranged for other events.

Is Edaville good for toddlers?

Yes. Children 3 and under are admitted free, the train ride through the lights is included with general admission, and there is a Santa meet-and-greet, villages and festive food. It is an outdoor evening event in December, so bundle little ones up and plan for a stroller or carrier for tired legs.

Can you see Santa at Edaville?

Yes. Santa and his helpers greet families at the North Pole area of the festival, with time for a photo and a Christmas list. Santa and Mrs. Claus also appear among the festival's live performers. Check ticket options on edaville.com, since some experiences are booked separately.

Is there ice skating at Edaville?

Yes. An outdoor skating rink sits in the Classic Christmas Village, surrounded by holiday lights. It suits a family outing or a date night. Skating is listed among the festival's ticketed experiences, so check edaville.com for whether it is included with your admission and whether rentals are available.

What are the Edaville special event weekends?

Recent seasons have featured Deck the Halls with a grand tree lighting, Winter Warm Up for pajamas and tacky sweaters, a Holiday Artisan Marketplace, The Giving Tree charity weekend where donors get a small gift, and Let's Glow Crazy, a neon glow party after Christmas. Dates are listed on the special events page.

Does Edaville have food?

Yes. The festival has several food locations with hot cocoa, fresh-baked treats, popcorn, fried dough and full meals. Guests 21 and over can visit the Jingle Bar in the New Christmas Village for cocktails, craft beer and mulled wine.

How long should I plan to spend at Edaville?

Most families plan two to three hours for the train ride, Santa, the villages and a snack. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your scheduled entry or train time on busy weekends, as the park recommends, so you have time to park and get to the gate.

Is Edaville accessible?

Edaville has accessible parking in the lot closest to the main entrance for vehicles with a valid state-issued disabled plate or placard. It does not post further accessibility details for the train or villages online, so call (508) 866-8190 or email info@edaville.com before your visit.

Does Edaville have horse-drawn carriage rides?

Yes. During the holiday festival, horse-drawn carriages carry guests under warm blankets through some of the most scenic parts of the grounds. Carriage rides are listed among the ticketed experiences on edaville.com, so book them along with your admission.

How do I contact Edaville?

Call (508) 866-8190 or email info@edaville.com. The event address is 5 Pine Street, Carver, MA 02330, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 419, Carver, MA 02330. The website also has a contact form for questions about tickets and visits.

When did Edaville first open for rides?

The railroad was completed in April 1947, and the Atwoods soon began giving free rides to friends. The trips through cranberry country proved so popular that they moved to a regular schedule, and Christmas became the busiest season, drawing families from all over New England.

What train museums are near Edaville?

The Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum is about 22 miles away, the Cape Cod Central Railroad about 28 miles, and the Newport Railway in Rhode Island about 30 miles. Slater Mill's railway history exhibits in Pawtucket are about 32 miles, making Carver a good starting point for a southeastern New England rail trip.

Keep exploring

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Kelsey Cecil
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