DARLINGTON — After Darlington’s annual Christmas Parade on Main Street, children of all ages visited the Darlington Depot to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Guests also enjoy hot cocoa and popcorn in the caboose, and saw the special Christmas Train in the model railroad. 

Christmas carols were sung. Goodie bags and caboose shortbread cookies by Tammy Halvorson were given out. Most of the attendees finished the evening with a ride through the light displays in Riverside Campground.

The kids seemed to enjoy climbing into the cupola seats of the caboose to see the light display from the windows up high.

The caboose and depot were both warmed by wood stoves, and the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society (LCHGS) members were busy answering questions and spreading Christmas cheer.

For more railroad fun, LCHGS held a Christmas party at the Depot on Friday for the kids at the Darlington Elementary and Middle School in the afternoon because it was an early release day. LCHGS has provided funding for school bus transportation for visits to the museums. Santa visited with the kids, and they were able to have fun in the caboose, enjoy cookies, popcorn, lemonade, hot cocoa, and goodie bags before getting a bus ride back to their usual parent pick-up point.

The Depot will not be open for regular hours until Memorial Day, but anyone can request access by calling the museum at least one weekday in advance (608) 776-8340. Railroad enthusiasts can pick up the LCHGS 2025 Railroad Calendar at the Museum (525 Main St, Darlington) from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekdays at Mathy’s Ace Hardware or Darlington Piggly Wiggly.