Each August, the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad and W.E. “Bill” Mason Carousel host their End of Summer Night Ride, a pasta dinner fundraiser!
End of Summer Night Ride details
This year, the event will be held Sunday on Aug 13, 2023 from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
At the very end of the summer season, the railroad and carousel hold their second major fundraiser of the year – the End of Summer Night Ride and Pasta Dinner. Evening activities begin at 5:30pm, and the last train departs at 8:30pm. You can either purchase one combo train and carousel ticket, for one ride on each, at $7, or get the unlimited pass (sold per person) and ride as many times as you want all evening for $20 per person.
Remember that children 2 and under ride free with paying adult.
Dinner is served from 6-8pm, and a donation (amount not currently listed, it was $10 a few years ago) will get you a plate piled high with spaghetti and meat sauce, a garden salad or caprese, and garlic bread. Vegetarian options are available, and beverages are an extra fee (beer and wine will be available for purchase). Additional donations are always welcome.
Donations are key!
The carousel and train keep up an active summer season with more open hours through the long, dry days. Even during the chilly rains of autumn and winter, they celebrate with the Holiday Train run during the Festival of Lights and are open on weekends. But what keeps the carousels running and the trains on track? Volunteers and donations! And they always appreciate more of both.
These popular Los Gatos legacies rely on donations to survive, and there are multiple opportunities throughout the year to spend a little extra time with your favorite local attractions and help them keep doing what we love.
Check out more event details, other events, and regular ticket pricing and open hours on the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce’s website or on the BJWRR website: https://bjwrr.org/events/. The BJWRR also has a Facebook page, which may update details such as the price of the dinner donation, as we get closer to the event.
Related reading:
Vasona and Oak Meadow Parks (on this site)
Photo tour of Vasona and Oak Meadow (this site)
