CHADDS FORD, PA — Miniature trains will wind through bustling villages, handmade ornaments will decorate festive trees, and colorful children’s illustrations will celebrate the wonders of winter as the Brandywine Museum of Art welcomes families back for its beloved holiday tradition.
Holidays at Brandywine returns Nov. 14, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027, bringing together the museum’s popular Brandywine Railroad display, decorated Christmas trees, dollhouses and a special exhibition exploring the changing seasons through children’s literature.
The celebration offers visitors a chance to experience a Chester County tradition that has delighted generations of families, with interactive model trains and artwork designed to spark the imagination of children and adults alike.
A Miniature Railroad Brings Holiday Wonder to Life
A centerpiece of the celebration since 1972, the Brandywine Railroad features an elaborate model train display with 2,000 feet of track and more than 1,000 pieces.
Locomotives, passenger trains, freight cars and trolleys travel through a miniature landscape filled with familiar scenes, including a village, farm, factories, drive-in movie theater and carnival.
The expansive O-gauge layout includes toy and scale-model trains produced by Lionel, Williams, Atlas, Mike’s Train House, K-Line and other manufacturers.
Visitors can watch the trains navigate the detailed scenery while using interactive push buttons and foot pedals to activate features throughout the display.
For longtime visitors, the railroad offers a nostalgic return to a favorite holiday attraction. For younger guests, it provides an opportunity to discover the intricate world of model trains.
Handmade Critter Ornaments and Holiday Displays
Beyond the railroad, the museum will showcase its signature Christmas trees decorated with handmade “Critter” ornaments.
These distinctive decorations have become a recognizable part of the museum’s seasonal celebration, adding a whimsical touch to the galleries.
Dollhouses and other holiday displays will also be featured, offering families additional seasonal scenes to explore during their visit.
Together, the decorations and miniature displays create a festive setting that combines traditional holiday imagery with the museum’s artistic character.
Children’s Illustrations Celebrate the Beauty of Winter
This year’s celebration also includes “Greeting Seasons: Wintry Joy in Children’s Illustration,” a special exhibition featuring artwork by four contemporary children’s book illustrators.
The exhibition explores the transition from autumn to winter through scenes of children and families enjoying seasonal activities, from raking leaves and ice skating to building snowmen and watching the changing world outside.
Featured artists include Micha Archer, Kevin Henkes, Chris Raschka and Audrey Helen Weber, each bringing a distinctive artistic approach to the experience of colder weather.
Archer creates intricate, textured collages using colorful papers decorated with hand-stamped designs. Her illustrations from “Wind Watchers” explore the role of wind throughout the seasons.
Henkes, known for his extensive collection of children’s picture books, contributes illustrations from “Is It Spring?,” which follows the slow passage of winter through the perspectives of children and animals.
Raschka’s illustrations from “I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea” use watercolor and oil pastels to depict how a blind girl experiences autumn and winter through touch, hearing and taste.
Weber’s work from “Year Round” explores the imaginative and sometimes unexpected questions children ask during winter. Their illustrations incorporate gouache, watercolor and acrylic paint.
The exhibition offers families an opportunity to discover how artists use color, texture and storytelling to capture the experiences and emotions associated with the changing seasons.
Both “Greeting Seasons” and the Brandywine Railroad display are included with general museum admission.
Extended Hours for Holiday Visitors
To accommodate holiday visitors, the Brandywine Museum of Art will operate daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the seasonal celebration, with several exceptions.
The museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and will close early at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
From Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, the museum will offer extended hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, remaining open until 8 p.m., except on Christmas Day.
The extended schedule provides additional opportunities for families to explore the holiday displays during the busy Christmas and New Year’s season.
Event Details
- What: Holidays at Brandywine, featuring the Brandywine Railroad model train display, handmade Critter ornaments, decorated Christmas trees, dollhouses and “Greeting Seasons: Wintry Joy in Children’s Illustration.”
- When: Nov. 14, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027. Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, when the museum is closed. Christmas Eve hours end at 1 p.m. Extended hours until 8 p.m. are offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, excluding Christmas Day.
- Where: Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317.
- Cost/Tickets: $25 for adults; $23 for seniors ages 65 and older; $10 for students with identification and children ages 4–17. Children ages 3 and younger and members of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art are admitted free. Holiday exhibitions are included with general admission.
- More Info: Visit https://www.brandywine.org/museum/exhibitions/brandywine-railroad for exhibition information and visitor details.
Important Information for Community Pass Holders
Visitors planning to use Brandywine Community Passes borrowed from area libraries should be aware of holiday blackout dates.
The passes will not be valid for admission from Nov. 22–28, 2026, or from Dec. 18, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027.
Families using library passes should plan their visits outside those periods or purchase regular admission tickets.
With more than five decades of model train tradition, imaginative seasonal artwork and festive decorations, Holidays at Brandywine offers families an opportunity to enjoy the holiday season through art, creativity and shared memories.
Whether returning to admire the miniature railroad or introducing children to the museum’s holiday displays for the first time, visitors will find plenty to discover at this Chadds Ford celebration.
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