Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and for families who aren’t ready to put the costumes away just yet, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad is running one more round of trick-or-treating the next day. The Trick or Treat Train departs from downtown Lebanon on Sunday, Nov. 1, for a round trip through Warren County with character meet-and-greets and candy along the way.
Lebanon sits roughly halfway between Cincinnati and Dayton, which makes this an easy morning or afternoon outing from either direction. Coach tickets start at $20 for kids, and costumes are encouraged.
How the Ride Works
The train ride is an hour and 15 minutes round trip on the railroad’s vintage cars. Kids collect treats on board, and according to the railroad, saying “trick or treat” is part of the deal. Halloween and fall-themed temporary tattoos are also available.
The character meet-and-greet happens after the ride, not during it, so plan on more than 75 minutes total. The characters listed for the Nov. 1 train are:
- Anna
- Elsa
- Jack Skellington and Sally
- Spider-Man
- Ghost-Spider
The railroad notes that characters can change due to unforeseen circumstances, so it’s worth not promising a specific one to a preschooler in advance.
Related Article: Things to do in Southwest Ohio with kids
Tickets and Pricing
Tickets come in two classes, coach and deluxe. The railroad’s page does not spell out what the deluxe upgrade includes, so call the ticket office if that $10 difference matters to your plans.
Coach Class
- Adults (18 to 61): $25
- Children (2 to 17): $20
- Seniors (62 and older): $20
- Infants (under 2, lap riders): $10
Deluxe Class
- Adults (18 to 61): $35
- Children (2 to 17): $30
- Seniors (62 and older): $30
- Infants (under 2, lap riders): $10
For a family of two adults and two kids, that works out to $90 in coach or $130 in deluxe. Note that infants under 2 still need a ticket, even though they ride on an adult’s lap.
Good to Know
Seating Isn’t Reserved
Families find out which train car they’re assigned at check-in, then pick any open seats within that car when boarding. If you’re meeting grandparents or friends who booked separately, call the ticket office at 513-933-8022 ahead of time so all of your reservations get placed in the same car. Otherwise there’s no guarantee you’ll end up together.
Parking Is a Short Walk
The railroad doesn’t have its own lot. Two public lots sit one to two blocks away, at Main and Mechanic streets (behind City Hall) and at Main and Sycamore streets. Limited street parking is available on South Street next to the station, along with two accessible spaces beside the ticket office. Build in a few extra minutes if you’re walking with small kids in costume.
Plan Your Visit
- What: Trick or Treat Train
- When: Sunday, Nov. 1; departures at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
- Where: Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, 16 E. South St., Lebanon, OH 45036
- Length: One hour and 15 minutes round trip, plus a character meet-and-greet afterward
- Ages: All ages
- Tickets: Coach $20 to $25, deluxe $30 to $35, infants $10
- Contact: 513-933-8022 or [email protected]
- Tickets and details: Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad Trick or Treat Train
- Parking: Railroad parking information
