Around midnight on December 31, a restored 1928 Ford Model A will be lowered from where it hangs above the vintage gas station at 200 Railroad Avenue. That will be the last official moment of Williams' Route 66 Centennial year. A year earlier, the town rang in 2026 and the centennial by lowering a 1927 Chevrolet Capitol at midnight, its first car drop ever, as the Williams-Grand Canyon News reported.
Williams is closing out the centennial on two nights the town already celebrates, the Christmas Parade on November 28 and New Year's Eve on December 31. Both happen within a few blocks of Railroad Avenue. In the 33 days between them, downtown evenings are shaped mostly by the crowds at the Grand Canyon Railway depot.
The Railway's lead-in comes first
The Grand Canyon Railway's Pumpkin Patch Train runs its last listed 2026 dates this weekend, October 24 and 25. Departures are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. both days, according to Experience Williams. The Railway's Pumpkin Patch Train page says each ticket comes with one pumpkin and lists haunted train cars, a harvest maze and seasonal activities at the Williams Depot. On October 31, the Williams Recreation Center is listed as a trick-or-treat stop in the City's October 2026 newsletter.
Once the pumpkins are gone, the depot changes over to its biggest season of the year.
November 28 is the centennial's first downtown night
The 2026 Christmas Committee and the City of Williams chose "Cruising Into Christmas" as this year's parade theme. The official flyer puts "100 Years on Route 66" right under it. That makes the parade the first of the two nights when the centennial and the holidays share a stage.
The schedule on the parade flyer and the Santaland flyer runs like this:
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Santaland at the Williams Recreation Center, 300 W. Railroad Avenue, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, family activities and prizes.
- 6:30 p.m.: The Christmas Parade starts in downtown Williams.
- After the parade: The tree lighting, followed by photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
That leaves about three and a half hours between Santaland and the parade. It's also the first big weekend of the holiday season, when the Polar Express is already operating. The Railway says the train runs on select dates from early November through late December. If you're heading downtown for the parade, the depot crowd is part of the evening whether or not you have a ticket.
The weeks between belong to the depot
The Polar Express leaves twice a night, at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Arizona time, for a round trip of about 90 minutes. The station sits behind the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The Railway hasn't posted exact 2026 operating nights in page text. Its booking calendar is labeled for the 2026 season and covers November and December, so check it before planning around a particular night.
The Railway's own planning guidance shows how big these evenings are. Its Polar Express FAQ says as many as 3,000 people may be on the property. It tells guests to allow extra time to find a spot in the free lots, which are east of Grand Canyon Boulevard as you enter the complex and west of the hotel. Guests with train-only tickets are told to arrive 90 minutes early, and boarding starts 15 minutes before departure. With two departures and a 90-minute lead time each, the crowd starts building around 4 p.m. and the last train is back around 9 p.m.
The FAQ also lists times for the activities around the trains. The FAQ was published in November 2025, so treat it as the Railway's published guidance and confirm details for any specific 2026 night:
| Time | What's running at the Railway complex |
|---|---|
| 3:30 p.m. | Photos with Mr. Claus open in the Polar Room; The Fred Harvey Restaurant starts dinner service |
| 4:30 p.m. | Mrs. Claus story time begins in the Polar Room |
| 5:30 p.m. | First Polar Express departure |
| 7:30 p.m. | Second Polar Express departure |
| 9:30 p.m. | Polar Room activities and Fred Harvey dinner service wrap up |
The same page mentions the Naughty or Nice Meter, staff elves on the platform, and the Hobo, who shares "hobo wisdom" near his campsite about 45 minutes before departure. Adult beverages aren't allowed on the train but are available at The Fred Harvey Restaurant and Spenser's Pub inside the hotel.
For anyone running errands or meeting friends downtown on a weekday evening between Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas, that table shows when the blocks around the depot will be busiest. Experience Williams also lists seasonal holiday shopping for this stretch and says more events will be posted as they're confirmed.
Route 66 itself changed during the centennial year
The storefronts have been changing along with the events. Two downtown shops opened or moved this fall, and a sushi spot took over a former doughnut shop, so a holiday walk along Route 66 now passes some newer names.
- Rustic 66 Sushi & Grill opened in February at 420 W. Route 66, in the old Canyon Donuts space, the Williams-Grand Canyon News reported.
- Moonstone's Shop expanded and moved from its spot beside Saya Gas on Route 66 to 140 E. Railroad Avenue, the Williams-Grand Canyon News reported on September 29.
- Jennie June's Pop-Up Shop opened at 341 E. Route 66, selling customizable hats, apparel and craft items, the Williams-Grand Canyon News reported on October 13.
Moonstone's new address puts it on Railroad Avenue, the same street as the Rec Center where Santaland is held and the New Year's Eve site at 200 Railroad Avenue.
December 31 marks the end of more than one thing on Route 66
The New Year's Eve celebration runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 200 Railroad Avenue. Experience Williams lists fireworks, a beer garden with local brews and Arizona wines, a hot cocoa and coffee vendor, and other food and local vendors. The second annual car drop, with the 1928 Ford Model A, comes at midnight. Experience Williams calls the evening the close of Williams' Route 66 Centennial year. Going from last year's 1927 Chevrolet to this year's 1928 Model A, the town is dropping a car one model year newer each time.
December 31 is also the day the lease ends for The Gallery, the artist cooperative inside the Historic Grand Canyon Hotel at 145 Historic Route 66. In January, the Williams-Grand Canyon News reported that the cooperative's 12-year run in its 1,000-square-foot space would end when the lease expires. The 40-member group was looking for a new location so it could keep supporting local artists. If The Gallery is a regular stop for your holiday gifts, the weeks between the parade and New Year's Eve are the last stretch to shop at the 145 Historic Route 66 address.
Our team lives and works in Northern Arizona, and we keep an eye on what's changing along Route 66 and Railroad Avenue as closely as anyone. If you'd like to talk about life in Williams, or what the town's busiest season means for owning a home within walking distance of the depot, Justin Bemis Real Estate Team would be glad to hear from you. Contact Us.
