Rail yard tours, a carnival, model trains, trolley rides, live music and other downtown activities will be featured during Galesburg Railroad Days, set for June 25-28.
The annual festival celebrates the railroad’s role in shaping Galesburg as a commercial and industrial center in western Illinois.
The event remains tied to the city’s identity as a railroad town, said Annette Godsil, president of the Galesburg Railroad Museum, 211 S. Seminary St.
“Everything in here is history,” Godsil said of the museum, “so coming through our building would be a plus for visitors. Taking a tour through our cars is a plus.”
Railroad Days grew out of a tragic chapter in local history. Godsil said the event traces its roots to the aftermath of a 1972 train crash that killed four railroaders. Burlington Northern later sought to make amends with local rail workers and their families, leading to rail yard tours for railroad families in 1976 and 1977.
The city became involved in 1978, when Railroad Days began as a larger community event.
“That’s how Railroad Days started, because of an accident,” Godsil said.
The festival has since grown into a mix of railroad-themed attractions, family activities and downtown entertainment. This year’s schedule includes extended hours at the Galesburg Railroad Museum, rail yard tours, a train show, free trolley rides, children’s activities, a cruise-in, food trucks, a Hy-Vee cookout, the Wilson Family Carnival and a Saturday night performance by Neon Nova.
The Galesburg Railroad Museum will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 28. The museum features railroad artifacts, exhibits and rail cars connected to Galesburg’s railroad history.
Admission to the museum during Railroad Days is $6 for adults and $3 for children ages 8 to 15. Children younger than 8 will be admitted free.
Godsil said the amount of time visitors spend at the museum depends on how deeply they want to explore the exhibits and rail cars.
“Everybody asks when they call, how long does it take to go through your museum?” she said. “And I kind of get a little chuckle because it varies. It all depends on you.”
Rail yard tours are scheduled for noon, 1 and 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with VIP tours at 3 p.m. both days. A Sunday VIP tour is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tickets will be sold the day of the tours at the museum. VIP tours are $30, and regular rail yard tours are $5.
The Wilson Family Carnival will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday on the downtown square. Mega armbands, available Thursday and Friday, include unlimited rides all weekend for $70. Four-hour armbands will be available for $30.
Saturday will feature many of the festival’s largest events. A model train show will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, with HO- and N-scale vendors. Admission is $8, and children 15 and younger will be admitted free.
BNSF Mini Mac rides will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Amtrak Depot. A BNSF wheel-change demonstration is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the depot.
“They bring a car up here that needs the wheels changed, and they demonstrate that for people,” Godsil said. “They also bring this cute little engine that about eight people can get in, and they run them around here. Both of those are free.”
Free trolley rides will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday to festival destinations.
Other Saturday events include face painting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Amtrak Depot and noon to 4 p.m. on Main Street; a Hy-Vee cookout from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the depot; food trucks from noon to 10 p.m. on Main Street; a mobile playground from 1 to 7 p.m. on Main Street between Prairie and Cherry streets; and a Western Illinois Antique Auto Club cruise-in from 3 to 8 p.m. on Main Street west of Kellogg Street.
Neon Nova will perform classic rock from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday in the Main Street beer tent.
Sunday’s events include museum hours from noon to 4 p.m., a Hy-Vee cookout from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., food trucks from 1 to 5 p.m., the 1 p.m. VIP rail yard tour and the carnival from 1 to 5 p.m.
Train-viewing areas include Peck Park, Icehouse Park and the County Highway 10 bridge.
Galesburg Railroad Days schedule
Wednesday, June 24
Galesburg Railroad Museum
Learn about the region’s railroading history and the people who shaped it.
Time: Noon to 4 p.m.
Location: Galesburg Railroad Museum, 211 S. Seminary St.
Cost: $6 for adults; $3 for children ages 8 to 15; free for children younger than 8
Thursday, June 25
Galesburg Railroad Museum
Learn about the region’s railroading history and the people who shaped it.
Time: Noon to 4 p.m.
Location: Galesburg Railroad Museum, 211 S. Seminary St.
Cost: $6 for adults; $3 for children ages 8 to 15; free for children younger than 8
Wilson Family Carnival
The carnival will be open on the downtown square. Mega armbands, available Thursday and Friday, include unlimited rides all weekend for $70. Four-hour armbands will be available for $30.
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
Location: Downtown square
Cost: Varies by ticket or armband
Friday, June 26
Galesburg Railroad Museum
Learn about the region’s railroading history and the people who shaped it.
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Galesburg Railroad Museum, 211 S. Seminary St.
Cost: $6 for adults; $3 for children ages 8 to 15; free for children younger than 8
Rail yard tours
Standard rail yard tours will be offered, with a VIP tour later in the afternoon. Tickets will be sold the day of the tours at the Galesburg Railroad Museum.
Time: Noon, 1 and 2 p.m. standard tours; 3 p.m. VIP tour
Location: Tickets sold at Galesburg Railroad Museum, 211 S. Seminary St.
Cost: $5 for standard tours; $30 for VIP tours
Wilson Family Carnival
The carnival will continue on the downtown square.
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
Location: Downtown square
Cost: Varies by ticket or armband
Saturday, June 27
Train show
The train show will feature HO- and N-scale vendors.
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Knights of Columbus Hall
Cost: $8; free for children 15 and younger
BNSF Mini Mac rides
Free rides will be offered on the BNSF Mini Mac.
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Amtrak Depot
Cost: Free
Face painting
Face painting will be offered at the Amtrak Depot and on Main Street.
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Amtrak Depot; noon to 4 p.m. on Main Street
Location: Amtrak Depot and Main Street
Trolley rides
Free trolley rides will run to festival destinations.
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Festival destinations
Cost: Free
BNSF wheel-change demonstration
BNSF will offer a wheel-change demonstration.
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Amtrak Depot
Cost: Free
Hy-Vee cookout
Sandwiches and drinks will be available for purchase.
Time: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Amtrak Depot
Cost: Varies by purchase
Food trucks
Food trucks will be available on Main Street.
Time: Noon to 10 p.m.
Location: Main Street
Cost: Varies by vendor
Rail yard tours
Standard rail yard tours will be offered, with a VIP tour later in the afternoon. Tickets will be sold the day of the tours at the Galesburg Railroad Museum.
Time: Noon, 1 and 2 p.m. standard tours; 3 p.m. VIP tour
Location: Tickets sold at Galesburg Railroad Museum, 211 S. Seminary St.
Cost: $5 for standard tours; $30 for VIP tours
Mobile playground
Free children’s activities and games will be offered.
Time: 1 to 7 p.m.
Location: Main Street between Prairie and Cherry streets
Cost: Free
Wilson Family Carnival
The carnival will continue on the downtown square.
Time: 1 to 10 p.m.
Location: Downtown square
Cost: Varies by ticket or armband
Western Illinois Antique Auto Club cruise-in
The cruise-in will feature a free antique car display.
Time: 3 to 8 p.m.
Location: Main Street west of Kellogg Street
Cost: Free
Neon Nova
Neon Nova will perform classic rock.
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: Main Street beer tent
Sunday, June 28
Hy-Vee cookout
Sandwiches and drinks will be available for purchase.
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Amtrak Depot
Cost: Varies by purchase
Galesburg Railroad Museum
Learn about the region’s railroading history and the people who shaped it.
Time: Noon to 4 p.m.
Location: Galesburg Railroad Museum, 211 S. Seminary St.
Cost: $6 for adults; $3 for children ages 8 to 15; free for children younger than 8
Food trucks
Food trucks will be available on Main Street.
Time: 1 to 5 p.m.
Location: Main Street
Cost: Varies by vendor
VIP rail yard tour
A VIP rail yard tour will be offered. Tickets will be sold the day of the tour at the Galesburg Railroad Museum.
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Tickets sold at Galesburg Railroad Museum, 211 S. Seminary St.
Cost: $30
Wilson Family Carnival
The carnival will continue on the downtown square.
Time: 1 to 5 p.m.
Location: Downtown square
Cost: Varies by ticket or armband
Ongoing
Train viewing
Rail-watching spots include Peck Park, Icehouse Park and the County Highway 10 bridge.
Time: Ongoing
Location: Peck Park, Icehouse Park and the County Highway 10 bridge
Cost: Free
Note: Event details are subject to change. Check with organizers before attending.