Rail Fair at Ardenwood Historic Farm

South Pacific Coast Railroad’s Rail Fair opened Saturday, May 23, at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont and continues Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend, according to the group’s event page. The annual event turns the site’s railroad museum and farm grounds into a three-day train festival with rides, model layouts, historic equipment displays and other family activities. Ardenwood Historic Farm is part of the East Bay Regional Park District, which describes the property as a working historical farm in Fremont. Organizers list Rail Fair 2026 tickets as starting at $13 and say the event runs from May 23 to May 25. ### Where is the event taking place, and who is running it? Ardenwood Historic Farm, at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard in Fremont, is hosting the event over Memorial Day weekend, according to multiple event listings and the South Pacific Coast Railroad site. The South Pacific Coast Railroad, which operates the railroad museum at Ardenwood, describes Rail Fair as its annual celebration of Bay Area railroad history. East Bay Regional Park District says Ardenwood has operated as a turn-of-the-century working farm since 1985. The district’s park page says visitors to Ardenwood can take part in farm programs and see the remains of the Patterson family estate, which began farming the land in the 1850s. ### What can visitors see at Rail Fair this weekend? Rail Fair includes train rides, operating model trains, historic railroad equipment, railroad museum displays and live bluegrass music, according to the organizer’s page. (spcrr.org) The South Pacific Coast Railroad says one of the main attractions is a display of delicate and historic railroad cars from its collection. Memorial Day weekend programming also includes tours of the historic Patterson House and displays by railroad museums from across Northern California, according to event listings carried by regional calendars. (ebparks.org) One listing says volunteers will be working on the restoration of a century-old railroad car that is intended to join the museum’s passenger train when finished. (spcrr.org) ### How large is the train component at Ardenwood? The South Pacific Coast Railroad says Rail Fair is the one time each year it “take[s] over Ardenwood” and turns the site into what it calls a train extravaganza. The event page says visitors can see model trains, other transit displays and full-size railroad equipment alongside the narrow-gauge historic train rides. Family-focused event guides describe the attraction mix as trains “of all sizes,” including model and live steam trains. (upcomingevents.com) Those listings also say the event is aimed at a broad audience, with family and toddler activities in addition to the rail exhibits. ### What does it cost, and when is it open? Events in California lists the event cost as starting from $13. (spcrr.org) Other Bay Area event calendars say Rail Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 23, May 24 and May 25. Sunday, May 24, is the middle day of the three-day run. The event remains open through Monday, May 25, according to organizer and calendar listings. (celebratefamily.us) ### Where can visitors get details before going? The South Pacific Coast Railroad has posted Rail Fair 2026 details and ticket links on its event page. Events in California and other local event calendars also carry schedule and location information for the Fremont event. (eventsincalifornia.com) Monday, May 25, is the final day listed for Rail Fair 2026 at Ardenwood Historic Farm. Organizers direct visitors to the ticket links on the South Pacific Coast Railroad page for day-specific admission information. (spcrr.org)