All Aboard for Fun! Hope’s Train Day Rolls into Town This Weekend

Hope, Arkansas, is home to the annual Watermelon Festival in August, and this weekend kicks off May with the 13th annual Train Day on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

13th annual Train Day - Choo Choo Baby!

Sponsored by the Hope Tourism Commission, Train Day festivities will be held downtown in and around the historic train depot Visitor's Center Museum from 9 AM to 4 PM. Anyone who loves trains or grew up playing with train sets as a kid will love this festival.

Schedule of Events -  2025 Train Day

• 9 AM: Kids Corner will feature bounce houses, face painting, kids train rides, a petting zoo, Jelly the Clown, and FREE hot dogs provided by Southwest Arkansas Today.
• 9:30 AM: The Nighthawk Band performs a live music show
• 11 AM: Kids Box Train Race (details here)
• 11:30 AM: Magic Show by Randall Eller
• 1 PM: Heather Linn and Jase Bryant perform a live music show
• 2:30 PM: The Roger Delano Band performs a live music show

Rib Cook-off Competition

Train Day also features a rib cook-off with winners announced at 4 PM. There will also be other food vendors at the festival, and don't miss the Twisted Pistons Car Show.

Admission is FREE

Don't miss the 2025 Train Day in downtown Hope, Arkansas, on Saturday, May 3rd. For updates, please visit the Train Day Facebook page.

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